Lebanon, Israel Resume Talks on Troop Withdrawal

Lebanese and Israeli representatives resumed talks in Rome on Tuesday on implementing a US-brokered agreement aimed at securing the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. The US State Department described the first day of negotiations as positive and said the talks would continue on Wednesday.

The framework agreement calls for the disarmament of militant groups, including Hezbollah, the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces to southern Lebanon and the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops. Lebanon is primarily seeking progress on the Israeli withdrawal, although no immediate breakthrough is expected.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the agreement offered the only way forward. He said Israel was ready to begin implementing two pilot zones in which Hezbollah would be disarmed, Israeli troops would withdraw and the Lebanese Armed Forces would take control.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun instructed his country's delegation to press for the immediate start of Israel's withdrawal from the pilot zones before any further discussions take place. Israel, however, maintains that it will keep its troops in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains armed.

(Reuters, Lud)