Key facts
- Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome have been postponed until October.
- Ambassadors from Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to meet in Washington next week.
- The delay is attributed to Jewish holidays, a Paris conference, and UN General Assembly preparations.
- A framework deal agreed in June aims for an end to Israel's war on Lebanon and the disarmament of armed groups.
The next round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, scheduled to take place in Rome, has been postponed until October, according to a US official cited by Axios. The delay is attributed to scheduling conflicts including Jewish holidays, a Paris conference, and preparations for the UN General Assembly. While the Rome talks are postponed, ambassadors from Lebanon and Israel are expected to meet at the State Department in Washington next week.
The discussions aim to implement a framework agreement reached in June, which calls for an end to Israel's war on Lebanon and the disarmament of armed groups, specifically Hezbollah. Lebanon hopes for progress towards securing an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Italy had offered to host the talks, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stating Rome could serve as a "capital of peace."
However, Hezbollah has rejected the June agreement and disarmament efforts. Israel maintains its troops will remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah is armed, citing the need for a buffer zone along the border. Lebanese officials have called Israel's claims about pilot zones a "delaying tactic," while Israeli forces have continued targeting areas in southern Lebanon. US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa has linked the stalled negotiations to regional tensions, suggesting an agreement is contingent on Hezbollah handing over its weapons.