Lebanon and Israel to Resume Talks on Troop Withdrawal

On 4 August, Lebanon and Israel will resume direct talks in Italy, mediated by the United States, aimed at bringing about a permanent end to hostilities.

The two countries, still formally at war, have been negotiating for more than three months on the implementation of an agreement involving the disarmament of Hezbollah, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese Army.

The first step took place this week when the Israeli army withdrew from the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh and the Lebanese Armed Forces took control of it.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the step as significant but emphasized that Beirut demands Israel's complete withdrawal from all parts of Lebanese territory.

Israel insists that it will keep its troops in the border zone until Hezbollah surrenders its weapons. The movement itself rejects direct negotiations and does not agree to complete disarmament.

(Reuters, mja)