Lebanon and Israel Meet in Rome for Sixth Round of US-Sponsored Talks

Ambassadors Karam, Moawad, and Leiter Convene in Rome

Rome Negotiations: Shifting the Venue and Representation

The sixth round of negotiations, moving from Washington to Rome, takes place on July 15 and 16. The Lebanese delegation includes Ambassador Simon Karam and Ambassador Nada Hamada Moawad. The Israeli delegation is led by the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter. The talks are conducted under direct American sponsorship, represented by the U.S. military coordination committee head, General Joseph Clearyfield, and Dan Holler, representing the U.S. Secretary of State.

The Lebanese government agreed to participate in this round after receiving American assurances that the negotiations would proceed within a trilateral framework involving Lebanon, the United States, and Israel, rather than through direct bilateral discussions. The meetings are expected to be held at the residence of the American ambassador in Rome, accompanied by strict security measures.

Benjamin Netanyahu Rejects Synchronized Withdrawal and Deployment

The “Pilot Areas” and Security Deadlock

The central point of contention remains the implementation of “pilot areas” in southern Lebanon, a concept outlined in the “framework agreement” signed previously in Washington. According to reports, the execution of these areas is currently stalled due to the refusal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept synchronization between the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the withdrawal of the Israeli Army. This refusal is intended to prevent the occurrence of a security vacuum. This file is currently a priority for American attention, with Washington exerting pressure on Netanyahu to facilitate the deployment of the Lebanese Army.

The Lebanese side does not treat the framework as a final agreement but rather as an “agreement framework.” It includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from a number of southern towns within the “pilot areas.” Lebanon maintains a formal stance of “withdrawal first.”

President Joseph Aoun Demands Adherence to Withdrawal Commitments

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed hope that the negotiations in Rome would lead to tangible and practical steps on the ground, specifically the beginning of an Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the evacuated areas. During meetings at the Baabda Palace, President Aoun emphasized the importance of unity, stating, Because it is the strongest weapon, and we must speak only in a Lebanese language, and only then will problems be solved in Lebanon, and loyalty will be to the nation and not to personal interest. President Aoun further remarked, I will not compromise on the South or on Lebanon’s rights, therefore there is an emphasis in the ‘framework formula’ on Israel’s withdrawal from all Lebanese territories, and it has signed that it has no ambitions in Lebanon. He also noted that wars and force do not lead to peace and stability.

Field Tensions and Diplomatic Stakes

The new round of negotiations comes amid continued Israeli shelling and explosions in southern villages, which are described as a flagrant violation of the ceasefire. The Israeli military carried out artillery shelling between Al-Nabatieh Al-Fawqa and Kafr Tebnit on Monday. The current discussions focus on forming technical committees to monitor the execution and agreeing on a map for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The fifth round of negotiations concluded on June 26, after lasting four days in Washington, without achieving concrete progress regarding the implementation of the commitments reached. As the current talks proceed, the focus remains on whether the committee chaired by General Clearyfield can effectively coordinate field procedures to ensure the security of the areas subject to the agreement.

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