Lebanon, Israel near pilot zones deal after productive Rome talks
US-mediated talks in Rome brought Lebanon and Israel closer to launching pilot zones in southern Lebanon. The move could start Israeli withdrawals and open the way for broader ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Lebanon and Israel have moved closer to starting "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon after two days of US-mediated talks in Rome, according to the US State Department. In these areas, Israeli forces would withdraw and hand control to the Lebanese army.
The State Department said the talks were "productive" and that the two sides "agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalised and implemented in the coming days". There was no immediate statement from Lebanon or Israel on the outcome of the negotiations.
Lebanon and Israel had announced a "framework agreement" on June 26 setting out a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from large parts of southern Lebanon that they are occupying, in return for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. The plan was meant to begin with two pilot zones, where the Israeli military would hand over control to the Lebanese army, which would then clear the areas of any Hezbollah presence. But implementation on the ground had stalled before this week's talks in Rome.
Before the talks, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is due to visit Washington on July 21, said instructions had been given to the Lebanese delegation "to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the two pilot zones before any further discussions".
Wednesday's statement did not say where the pilot zones would be. But Lebanese and Israeli officials had earlier said they would include the towns of Froun, Ghandouriyeh and Zawtar. The proposed zones had caused some controversy in Lebanon because Israeli troops were not present in most of the selected area to begin with, raising questions about how such a withdrawal would happen. The Lebanese army had pushed for larger pilot zones covering more occupied territory.
The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah began when Hezbollah fired missiles across the border on March 2, two days after the US and Israel attacked Iran. Hezbollah and Iran had tried to link the end of the war in Lebanon to the outcome of wider US-Iran talks. The Lebanese government, seeking to limit Iran's influence, wanted to keep the two tracks separate and negotiate a ceasefire directly with Israel.
The June 26 deal also lays out steps towards a possible peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which have technically remained in a state of war for nearly 80 years since Israel's establishment. The State Department said that after the pilot zones are put in place, "We will move to expanded technical talks ... with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon."
Hezbollah has strongly opposed direct talks between Lebanon and Israel and has said it will not abide by the agreement or disarm. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said publicly that they plan an extended occupation of southern Lebanon. The Rome talks have now set out the process for the pilot zones, which are intended to be the first step in implementing the June 26 agreement.
With PTI Inputs
Lebanon and Israel have moved closer to starting "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon after two days of US-mediated talks in Rome, according to the US State Department. In these areas, Israeli forces would withdraw and hand control to the Lebanese army.
The State Department said the talks were "productive" and that the two sides "agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalised and implemented in the coming days". There was no immediate statement from Lebanon or Israel on the outcome of the negotiations.
Lebanon and Israel had announced a "framework agreement" on June 26 setting out a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from large parts of southern Lebanon that they are occupying, in return for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. The plan was meant to begin with two pilot zones, where the Israeli military would hand over control to the Lebanese army, which would then clear the areas of any Hezbollah presence. But implementation on the ground had stalled before this week's talks in Rome.
Before the talks, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is due to visit Washington on July 21, said instructions had been given to the Lebanese delegation "to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the two pilot zones before any further discussions".
Wednesday's statement did not say where the pilot zones would be. But Lebanese and Israeli officials had earlier said they would include the towns of Froun, Ghandouriyeh and Zawtar. The proposed zones had caused some controversy in Lebanon because Israeli troops were not present in most of the selected area to begin with, raising questions about how such a withdrawal would happen. The Lebanese army had pushed for larger pilot zones covering more occupied territory.
The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah began when Hezbollah fired missiles across the border on March 2, two days after the US and Israel attacked Iran. Hezbollah and Iran had tried to link the end of the war in Lebanon to the outcome of wider US-Iran talks. The Lebanese government, seeking to limit Iran's influence, wanted to keep the two tracks separate and negotiate a ceasefire directly with Israel.
The June 26 deal also lays out steps towards a possible peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which have technically remained in a state of war for nearly 80 years since Israel's establishment. The State Department said that after the pilot zones are put in place, "We will move to expanded technical talks ... with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon."
Hezbollah has strongly opposed direct talks between Lebanon and Israel and has said it will not abide by the agreement or disarm. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said publicly that they plan an extended occupation of southern Lebanon. The Rome talks have now set out the process for the pilot zones, which are intended to be the first step in implementing the June 26 agreement.
With PTI Inputs
Lebanon and Israel have moved closer to starting "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon after two days of US-mediated talks in Rome, according to the US State Department. In these areas, Israeli forces would withdraw and hand control to the Lebanese army.
The State Department said the talks were "productive" and that the two sides "agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalised and implemented in the coming days". There was no immediate statement from Lebanon or Israel on the outcome of the negotiations.
Lebanon and Israel had announced a "framework agreement" on June 26 setting out a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from large parts of southern Lebanon that they are occupying, in return for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. The plan was meant to begin with two pilot zones, where the Israeli military would hand over control to the Lebanese army, which would then clear the areas of any Hezbollah presence. But implementation on the ground had stalled before this week's talks in Rome.
Before the talks, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is due to visit Washington on July 21, said instructions had been given to the Lebanese delegation "to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the two pilot zones before any further discussions".
Wednesday's statement did not say where the pilot zones would be. But Lebanese and Israeli officials had earlier said they would include the towns of Froun, Ghandouriyeh and Zawtar. The proposed zones had caused some controversy in Lebanon because Israeli troops were not present in most of the selected area to begin with, raising questions about how such a withdrawal would happen. The Lebanese army had pushed for larger pilot zones covering more occupied territory.
The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah began when Hezbollah fired missiles across the border on March 2, two days after the US and Israel attacked Iran. Hezbollah and Iran had tried to link the end of the war in Lebanon to the outcome of wider US-Iran talks. The Lebanese government, seeking to limit Iran's influence, wanted to keep the two tracks separate and negotiate a ceasefire directly with Israel.
The June 26 deal also lays out steps towards a possible peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which have technically remained in a state of war for nearly 80 years since Israel's establishment. The State Department said that after the pilot zones are put in place, "We will move to expanded technical talks ... with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon."
Hezbollah has strongly opposed direct talks between Lebanon and Israel and has said it will not abide by the agreement or disarm. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said publicly that they plan an extended occupation of southern Lebanon. The Rome talks have now set out the process for the pilot zones, which are intended to be the first step in implementing the June 26 agreement.
With PTI Inputs
