End of the Sixth Round of Negotiations Between Lebanon and Israel in Rome

The first day of the sixth round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, under American sponsorship, concluded in an attempt to translate the framework agreement signed in Washington in late June into field steps, most notably the establishment of "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon, from which Israeli forces would gradually withdraw in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army under American supervision.

Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal followed the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations from the Republican Palace in Baabda.

Information from "Al-Nahar" indicated that the American ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, is not participating in the round of direct negotiations in Rome.

Lebanese sources told Al-Arabi TV that the delay in implementing the pilot zones is due to Israel's request for the army to deploy in non-occupied areas.

Baabda sources explained to Al-Jadeed that the delay of the Israeli delegation by more than an hour and part of the American delegation led to a delay in the start of the negotiations, noting that the discussion for Lebanon focused on how to develop the executive mechanisms for the framework agreement.

The sources pointed out that the Israeli side demands specifying how the army deployment and the application of the model zone will be verified if it withdraws from it.

.

They stressed that the first step for Lebanon lies in recording an Israeli withdrawal from the first inch of Lebanese territory, noting that the Lebanese principle stipulates that the model zone must be occupied.

The Anadolu Agency quoted a Lebanese official source as saying that the Rome negotiations discuss defining the tasks of the working groups that will be formed from the United States, Lebanon, and Israel to follow up on the implementation of the "framework formula."

Al-Mudun sources indicated that proposals from the Lebanese and Israeli sides regarding the model zone are being studied and are currently under review.

They explained that what is required for the Lebanese side is to work on a clear implementation mechanism for the framework agreement, noting that the expectation and goal for Lebanon is to identify the first model zone and begin implementation.

Baabda sources clarified to MTV that the main focus in the Rome negotiations is on the mechanism for implementing the first step of the model zone, which must be among the occupied towns on the basis of an Israeli withdrawal in parallel with the deployment of the Lebanese army, enshrining this principle in any area adopted.

They pointed out that Lebanon, under the direction of the army command, presented a complete vision that answers Israeli concerns about the army's ability to impose its full control after any withdrawal, while the Israeli side also presented its concerns, and the details are currently being discussed under American sponsorship.

The sources added that the hope is that the Rome round will lead to setting a date and a specific geographical "zone" for the Israeli withdrawal, leaving the technical details to a specialized committee if necessary, in preparation for achieving this before the President of the Republic's visit to the United States.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Minister said: "We are moving forward with the implementation of the two pilot zones in southern Lebanon and will prove good faith during the Rome negotiations round."

The negotiations continue for two days, under direct follow-up from the US State Department, which seeks to solidify the ceasefire and push the two parties towards implementing the first phase of the agreement, with the possibility of returning the talks to Washington if the current round faces obstacles.

The Lebanese delegation includes Ambassador to Washington Nada Mouawad, former Ambassador Simon Karam, and Brigadier General Ziad Haykal, advisor to President Joseph Aoun, while a source close to the negotiations confirmed that the delegation does not carry any new conditions, and that the priority is to solidify the ceasefire, begin the Israeli withdrawal, and redeploy the Lebanese army, in preparation for launching the reconstruction process.

The source explained that the discussion of military details regarding the launch of the "pilot zones" will be completed in Beirut, given the absence of a Lebanese military delegation from the Rome meetings.

Parallel to the negotiations, the Lebanese army is holding coordination meetings in Beirut with an American military delegation that arrived days ago, following a series of meetings with Israeli military officials, to discuss mechanisms for implementing the first phase of the agreement.

A military source reported that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) is coordinating between the two sides regarding the implementation of the "pilot zones" mechanism, confirming that Washington is pressuring Israel to adhere to its commitments, while the date of the Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese army remains undecided.

According to information, the areas proposed for implementing the first phase include Zawtar al-Sharqiyya, Zawtar al-Gharbiyya, Yohmor, the vicinity of Shaqif Castle (Beaufort Castle), Frun, and Al-Ghandouriyya, which are strategic areas overlooking the Litani River and a number of Israeli towns.

The "pilot zones" mechanism stipulates that the Lebanese army assumes full security responsibility within these areas, preventing any armed groups not affiliated with the state from entering them, as a first step within the security arrangements on the southern border.