The first round of American-brokered negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome concluded Thursday after three days, according to Lebanese reports. The talks, which began earlier this week, focused on a framework for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and border disputes. No outcome has been disclosed.
The first round of American-brokered negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome concluded on Thursday after three days of talks, according to Lebanese reports cited by Israeli media. The round, which began earlier this week, focused on the framework for a partial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon under American supervision, as well as remaining land border disputes.
Earlier on Thursday, The Zioneer reported that the third day of the talks had concluded, with the Lebanese delegation reportedly demanding that Israel provide a list of Lebanese citizens held in Israeli custody. The outcome of that session was not disclosed. The conclusion of the round marks the end of the Rome session, which was scheduled to run from August 4 to 6, as previously confirmed by the US State Department on July 29. The talks proceeded as scheduled despite a single unverified report from a Lebanese diplomatic source on Wednesday evening that the negotiations had been suspended.
The Rome talks are part of a broader diplomatic effort to reach a comprehensive security arrangement between the two countries, following the framework agreement signed in Washington in June. Prior rounds of negotiations in Washington, which extended to a fourth day in late June, saw the emergence of a pilot plan for a potential Israeli withdrawal under American supervision. The US State Department described the Rome talks as focusing on implementing the pilot zone process and addressing land border disputes.
No official statement from the Israeli or Lebanese delegations has been issued on the results of the round. The exact outcome of the negotiations and the status of the Lebanese demand for a list of detainees remain unclear.
3 developments
- DevelopingDiplomatic source: Israel-Lebanon negotiations in Rome suspended
- DevelopingReport: New round of Israel-Lebanon negotiations to begin Tuesday
- StrongUS State Department confirms next round of Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome, August 4-6
- StrongAxios: First Day of Israel-Lebanon Talks Ends Without Progress
Source and signal
- Open-source intake