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Day two in Washington: Israel's withdrawal plan from Lebanon discussed
On the second day of Lebanon-Israel talks continuing in Washington under U.S. mediation, the plan for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the occupied territories was discussed. The sticking point in the talks is said to be the scope of Israel's withdrawal and the starting areas.
The second day of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in the U.S. capital Washington has concluded. According to Israeli media, in a session where American officials decided to restart talks following tensions on the first day, the parties discussed a U.S.-backed withdrawal plan.
The plan envisages Israel's withdrawal from the territories it occupied during its war against Lebanon and the handover of these areas to the Lebanese army.
Sticking Point: The Scope of the Withdrawal
The American Axios website and Israeli media reported that the main disagreement in the talks is the scope of Israel's withdrawal and the areas where the withdrawal would begin. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the U.S. Central Command commander will visit Israel today to discuss the Iran and Lebanon files.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, citing sources, announced that the parties exchanged maps on Wednesday and that a partial Israeli withdrawal from some areas is expected. American mediators are said to hope both sides will show more flexibility in their positions.
Unresolved Issues
A source participating in the negotiations who spoke to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation said the parties do not agree on every issue, but negotiations continue over pilot zones and field teams in southern Lebanon. The source stated that the timing of the pilot phase or the areas from which the Israeli army is expected to withdraw have not yet been clarified.
Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told reporters in New York that Israel aims to hand over some of the occupied territories to the Lebanese army but will maintain its military presence in the buffer zone near the border.
American Support and Oversight for the Lebanese Army
Israeli officials claimed that under the Washington-backed proposal, the Lebanese forces would undergo training and supervision by the U.S. to ensure they have no connection to Hezbollah. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement from Kuwait, said they are ready to help the Lebanese army build the necessary capacity to control the territories in southern Lebanon, but did not address the issue of supervising Lebanese elements.
A senior Lebanese security official confirmed that the talks in Washington are ongoing and that the session on Wednesday discussed pilot zones between the armies. The official noted that the meetings are focused on a timeline for Israel's withdrawal and that no plan will emerge before the final session on Thursday.
Emphasis on Full Withdrawal from Lebanon
The Lebanese Presidency announced that President Joseph Aoun informed a delegation from the United Kingdom and Germany that negotiations regarding the proposed pilot zones are ongoing and that Israel's approval is awaited.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the negotiations as the "least costly path" for the country, stressing that Lebanon demands a full Israeli withdrawal from its territories and the release of Lebanese prisoners in Israel.
The U.S.-proposed plan, which envisages the Lebanese army controlling the "pilot zones," was part of a ceasefire plan accepted by Lebanese and Israeli officials on June 3. However, Hezbollah rejected the plan, which was conditioned on a ceasefire from its side and the withdrawal of its fighters from a large area in the south. Iran, within the framework of a memorandum of understanding with the U.S., had demanded a ceasefire alongside the guarantee of Lebanon's "territorial integrity and sovereignty."
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