Next round of Lebanon-Israel talks to be held next week in Rome
The next round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon will be held next week in Rome, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said.
The talks will take place on July 14 and 15, Leiter said Monday in an interview, adding that President Joseph Aoun will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on July 21.
Leiter said both Israel and Lebanon consider that the trilateral framework agreement supersedes the clause on Lebanon in the U.S.-Iran MOU.
The Israeli ambassador said Israel does not have any territorial ambitions in Lebanon but that troops will remain there until Hezbollah is disarmed.
"Lebanon is gonna have to get ahold of itself.. make the choice — that it comes down to the side of accommodationism — those who have threatened the notion of Israel’s existence and that Lebanon can be used as a conduit to fulfill Iran's dreams of annihilating Israel cannot succeed."
Leiter claimed that Hezbollah activists and sympathizers are members of the Lebanese army and said Israel has submitted a proposal to have the U.S. vet the army to weed out Hezbollah sympathizers.
The Times of Israel reported that President Trump had suggested that Israel should be the one to vet and train the Lebanese soldiers, but U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded that the army hates Hezbollah "but they’re not ready to love the Israelis yet."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed on Tuesday that the next round of talks with Lebanon will take place in Rome.
"Less than two weeks ago, Israel, Lebanon and the United States reached a historic framework agreement. These talks are due to continue next week in Rome, Italy," Saar said during a joint press conference with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul in Jerusalem, adding that "Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon."
Source: Naharnet
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