U.S. Postpones Israel-Lebanon Rome Talks to October, Moves Ambassadors to Washington

The next round of Israeli-Lebanese negotiations planned for Rome next week was postponed to October, after a U.S. official confirmed the change on Friday.

“has been postponed to October, an American official confirmed on Friday”

Al-Jazeera Net

The United States said the ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel would instead meet at the State Department in Washington next week to discuss developments and continue implementing the June framework agreement.

Al Jazeera

The postponement was linked to preparations for the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly, Jewish holidays, and a Paris conference to support the Lebanese armed forces, according to a source familiar with the preparations.

The talks had been expected to discuss the buildup of a force to ensure disputed areas have already been cleared of Hezbollah presence, according to Israeli public broadcaster, while Lebanon and Israel had held seven rounds of direct negotiations since April 14.

The announcement came a day after Israel destroyed what it said was a Hezbollah tunnel network beneath the Ali al-Tahir heights in southern Lebanon, amid intensified Israeli raids in the south.

The U.S.-mediated framework agreement, reached in late June, is described as “the only viable mechanism to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and Israel’s security,” with ambassadors continuing discussions in Washington before the next formal round in Rome in October.

The agreement envisages the deployment of the Lebanese army in pilot zones evacuated by Israel, subject to the disarmament of Hezbollah, which is described as pro-Iran.

Al Jazeera

A U.S. State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the next round of formal negotiations will take place in Rome in October, while the ambassadors are due to meet in Washington next week.

The process began with direct contacts between the Lebanese and Israeli delegations in April and culminated on June 26 in a framework agreement mediated by Washington, according to El Nuevo Diario.

El Nuevo Diario also said the pact contemplates phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from certain areas in southern Lebanon and their replacement by elements of the Lebanese Army through pilot zones, with mechanisms aimed at advancing toward verifiable disarmament of armed groups.

Lebanese and Israeli negotiations remain stalled as the Lebanese army warned that continued violations threaten understandings and arrangements in place, after it announced it had recorded about 7,700 Israeli violations since the framework agreement was signed on June 26.

“about 7,700 Israeli violations since the framework agreement was signed on June 26”

Al-Jazeera Net

The same Al-Jazeera Net account said Hezbollah has repeatedly voiced its opposition and urged the government to halt the talks, while the sixth round produced a preliminary agreement to designate two test areas to begin implementing the Israeli withdrawal.

Gulf News tied the postponement to intensifying Hezbollah strikes and said the Rome talks were delayed until October as the U.S. hosted envoys amid rising border tensions.G

Gulf News also said the delay came one day after Israel destroyed tunnels built by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with the massive explosion recorded by the U.S. GGeological Survey as the equivalent of a 4.1-magnitude earthquake.

In Nabatieh, Lebanon President Joseph Aoun told residents that there are currently no new negotiations with Israel and said the withdrawal, the return of prisoners and refugees, and reconstruction are national principles to which Lebanon is committed.