Israel affirms readiness to proceed with agreement with Lebanon

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Tuesday that his country is ready to move forward with the agreement with Lebanon.

The sixth round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations launched in Rome under American sponsorship, in an attempt to translate the framework agreement signed in Washington in late June into field steps, most notably the establishment of "experimental zones" in southern Lebanon, from which Israeli forces would gradually withdraw in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army under American supervision.

The framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon was signed on June 26 last year in Washington under American sponsorship after 5 rounds of negotiation.

The agreement included key provisions, most notably a declaration of intent to end the conflict and war between the two countries, affirming the right of each state to live in peace and security, and engaging in a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanese territory, matched by the deployment of the army across the entire territory of the state and the disarmament of armed militias.