Israel and Lebanon Prepare for Rome Talks Amid Scheduling Dispute

Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold a two-day round of talks in Rome, likely next week, as part of ongoing negotiations following a framework agreement signed in Washington between the countries' ambassadors. However, the exact date remains uncertain and may be postponed to the following week, partly due to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's planned visit to Washington on July 21. The talks were moved from Washington to Rome because most working group members are from the Middle East, making Rome a more convenient location. Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington, Yechiel Leiter and Nada Hamadeh Muwad, will also participate.

The United States continues to promote a potential trilateral meeting involving President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, but Lebanese officials reportedly oppose a meeting with Netanyahu. Israeli officials claim the agreement strengthens Israel's position, allowing it to maintain a security zone extending 8 to 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory until Hezbollah's infrastructure is dismantled. A senior Israeli source stated that Israel expects to eventually dismantle Hezbollah itself, as the Lebanese army is unlikely to do so.

Separately, an unusual Zoom meeting took place between Israelis and Lebanese discussing peace and normalization. Participants included former Deputy National Security Advisor Eran Etzion and Lebanese-American peace activist Nizar Zaka, who was imprisoned by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Zaka, a prominent advocate for dialogue and normalization between Israel and Lebanon, emphasized shared human concerns and aspirations for safety and prosperity. He noted that most Lebanese desire peace and true normalization to foster genuine neighborly relations across the border.