Israel and Lebanon Near Limited South Lebanon Withdrawal Pilot

Despite public statements from Israeli officials that Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in southern Lebanon, talks with Lebanon mediated by the United States are moving toward a limited pilot withdrawal from territory currently controlled by the IDF.

The plan, first reported this week by Channel 12, would see the IDF pull out of a small enclave, some of it south of the Litani River, which Israel says has been cleared as much as possible of Hezbollah presence. The Lebanese Army would enter the area in place of Israeli forces, while the United States would supervise implementation through its forces in the region.

An Israeli source told N12 that the fifth round of talks in Washington is advancing cautiously and step by step. “We are succeeding in making progress inch by inch,” the source said. “If it works, we will see the pilot expand.”

Several issues remain unresolved, including the size of the area, its exact borders and the pace of withdrawal. Lebanon wants a larger area than Israel is prepared to offer, while Israel wants to minimize the retreat within the yellow line. Israel is also insisting on a gradual process that will test whether the Lebanese Army can take control and keep Hezbollah out. The current round of talks at the U.S. State Department was expected to end Thursday after three straight days, with the aim of launching the pilot and showing that the negotiations are being driven by Israel and Lebanon themselves, not by Iran or Hezbollah.