The first day of the seventh round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Rome focused on border issues and mechanisms to verify the implementation of security arrangements, a senior Lebanese official told Anadolu on Tuesday.
“The first day of the seventh round of negotiations with Israel concluded, with the afternoon discussions divided into two meetings, one military and one political,” the official said.
At the political meeting, the two sides discussed the border issue, with Lebanon presenting its position. The discussions are scheduled to continue on Wednesday, the official said.
During the military meeting, participants discussed mechanisms to verify the implementation of the security arrangements, including an Israeli withdrawal, Hezbollah’s weapons, as well as the third party responsible for overseeing the process.
“Lebanon has not yet received responses from Israel’s political leadership regarding its commitment to the ceasefire,” the official said.
Hezbollah slams talks
At negotiations in Washington in June, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a framework deal that involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon’s south and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in test areas known as “pilot zones”.
This week’s negotiations are the seventh round of Washington-mediated talks since March when Hezbollah attacked Israel with rocket fire in support of Iran. Israel responded with heavy air strikes and a ground invasion that Lebanon says have killed more than 4,300 people.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Tuesday that the direct negotiations would bring “nothing but shame, humiliation, and successive compromises” for Lebanon.
