Israel Demands Information on Missing Jews and Ron Arad in Lebanon Talks in Rome

During the seventh round of Israel-Lebanon negotiations held this week in Rome under American mediation, Israel raised new demands concerning missing members of Lebanon's Jewish community who disappeared during the country's civil war. Israel also pressed for information regarding the fate of Ron Arad, an Israeli airman missing since 1986. According to sources cited by the Arabic newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Israel's demands are viewed by Lebanon as unrealistic and intended to justify Beirut's refusal to advance on Lebanese prisoner issues and to embarrass the Lebanese government.

The issue of Ron Arad and the missing Jews of Lebanon has surfaced in previous talks, including during the 2022 maritime border delimitation negotiations mediated by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, but Lebanon claimed it lacked data to clarify their fate. The current discussions also covered the release of 34 Lebanese detainees held by Israel, some arrested decades ago and others since October 2024, including during recent hostilities.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the talks as having made "positive progress" on border and prisoner issues and expressed hope for practical steps soon. The talks additionally addressed ceasefire arrangements, demolition of structures, border marking, and defining trial zones for implementing agreements. Despite ongoing significant gaps over prisoner release conditions, Lebanon considers the continuation of these discussions a positive development.