US insists Israel-Lebanon talks moving in ‘positive direction’ despite setback last week
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chiefWASHINGTON — The next round of US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place in early September in Rome, a State Department official announced Tuesday, after officials from both countries recognized setbacks during last week’s talks.“The political track will reconvene in Rome in early September, and conversations will continue in Beirut, Jerusalem, and Washington in the interim,” the official said. “We feel good about the trajectory.”Last week’s round of US-sponsored talks ended early on their second day, amid an escalation in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Beirut is also frustrated with the pace of Israeli withdrawals, feeling that Jerusalem is dragging its feet ahead of October elections, while Israel argues that verification of Hezbollah disarmament must be completed first.Nonetheless, a State Department spokesperson insisted that the three days of talks last week were “constructive” and saw the sides reach…
US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon, aimed at disarming Hezbollah and facilitating Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, will resume in Rome in early September. Despite a setback last week due to an escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, a State Department official stated, "The direction of travel remains positive." The previous round of talks, the seventh since March, ended early but were deemed "constructive," with both sides reaching understandings on verifying Hezbollah infrastructure clearance to unlock future pilot zones. Lebanon is expected to present detailed roadmaps for securing new areas, with ongoing discussions about third-party verification for demilitarized zones. The US also reiterated its opposition to extending the UNIFIL observer force's mandate, believing it has not adequately prevented Hezbollah's rearmament.
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