Disagreements Emerge Over Upcoming Israel-Lebanon Talks in Rome Amid Framework Agreement Implementation

Lebanese official sources confirmed that the U.S. State Department has informed Lebanon and Israel about a planned working meeting on July 15 and 16 in Rome to discuss mechanisms for implementing the "framework agreement" signed between the two countries in Washington last month. Lebanese sources told the Lebanese newspaper Nidaa Al-Watan that the upcoming round of talks will focus on technical discussions based on the previous trilateral talks held in Washington. They clarified that the proposal to hold the meeting came from Washington, not Israel, and Lebanon's delegation is still deliberating whether to participate.

According to sources cited by the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, Lebanon's ambassador to Washington, Nada Mouawad, advised President Joseph Aoun to attend the Rome meeting. This contrasts with the position of Simon Karam, head of Lebanon's delegation to the talks with Israel, who reportedly advised President Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati against attending. Karam expressed skepticism about Israel's commitment to the agreement, noting that Israel initially pledged to hand over positions north of the Litani River and one village south of it to the Lebanese army but later retracted after attaching new conditions. He warned that Israel appears intent only on returning to conflict.

While Ambassador Mouawad supports attending the Rome talks even without Karam's presence, she reportedly fears that Lebanon's refusal to participate could delay President Aoun's planned visit to the White House, especially since the invitation originated from the United States. The internal disagreement highlights tensions within Lebanon regarding engagement with Israel despite the recent framework agreement.