Israeli media announced that the agenda for Lebanon-Israel talks planned to start tomorrow in Washington, the US capital, includes Israel's plan for a gradual withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
The Israeli site Walla, citing unnamed Israeli sources, wrote that this issue will be addressed in the fifth round of direct talks.
Withdrawal conditions to be discussed
The sources suggested that Israel could likely withdraw gradually from areas in southern Lebanon it previously occupied that do not allow direct fire into Israeli territory.
The report claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz distinguish between areas under the operational control of the Israeli army. According to this distinction, areas like the Shuf Castle (Bovur Hills), from which direct fire can be opened on Israeli settlements, and areas like the Ali Tahir Hills, which do not allow direct fire, are evaluated differently.
It was indicated that Israel, through US mediation, might agree to withdraw from areas that do not permit direct fire to the Lebanese side.
Hezbollah infrastructure condition
However, the sources claimed that such a withdrawal would be gradual and could only occur after the destruction of 'terrorist infrastructure' above and below ground. It was stated that if the Lebanese mechanism proves its effectiveness, the Israeli army could agree to withdraw from these areas.
One source said, "The Lebanese will have to prove to us and the US that they can confront Hezbollah and destroy the terrorist infrastructure they have been working on for about twenty years."
Security and military sources, meanwhile, suggested that until then, the Israeli army has no intention of withdrawing from southern Lebanon and will continue to monitor and destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure in the coming period.
Message from Netanyahu
In a video message published on the X platform on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said the instructions given to the army have not changed. Netanyahu stated, "Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to neutralize any direct or potential threat to themselves or to the residents of the north."
Netanyahu claimed the Israeli army has no restrictions in this regard and said, "We will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon as long as it is necessary to protect the residents of the north and all the country's citizens."
The US State Department announced last Friday that a new round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel will be held in Washington on Tuesday and Thursday. This will be the fifth round of talks that began in April, aiming to sign an agreement.
