Lebanon-Israel Negotiations and Tensions

They are practically two paths running together, Zaher

Whether it is the political path or the path on the ground

which practically intensifies with every launch of a new round of negotiations

as Israeli forces carry out escalation operations in tandem with the ongoing negotiations.

We are facing a second round held in Rome, and the seventh since the negotiations began.

Through this round today, the main goal is

to stop the destruction of southern villages and towns, and to establish a ceasefire.

Every time the Lebanese negotiating delegation goes to the meetings,

establishing a ceasefire is the first item on the agenda.

But on the ground, every time, Israel carries out

more escalation, more bombings, and more destruction.

Consequently, there are fears that today's negotiation sessions will turn

into mere meetings whose decisions cannot be implemented on the ground.

Especially if we look at the sixth round, which led

to an agreement on experimental areas from which Israeli forces would withdraw, namely Zawtar al-Gharbiyyah and Zawtar al-Sharqiyyah.

Israel refused to withdraw from Zawtar al-Sharqiyyah despite this agreement,

and withdrew only from Zawtar al-Gharbiyyah.

Practically, on the ground, it withdrew from a very small geographical area,

from only a few neighborhoods of the entire town from which it was supposed to withdraw.

Therefore, relying today on a second phase of withdrawals, in

light of the US statements made by the US Ambassador in Beirut,

Michele Sison, seems far-fetched for the Lebanese, at least on the popular level.

On the political level, there is still a bet on the US role,

even if Sison's statements yesterday were contrary to what Lebanon expects

in terms of US support for its just and legitimate demands regarding the withdrawal from the territories occupied by Israeli forces.

But despite all of this, Lebanon is going with maps and proofs

that in the first phase, the Lebanese Army achieved what needed to be achieved and what was agreed upon

in terms of control and extending authority in Zawtar al-Gharbiyyah and areas such as Froun, Al-Ghardoun, Al-Ghandouriyah, and Srifa.

This will make Lebanon demand a second pilot area, with Lebanon proposing Bint Jbeil and Khiam, but

it is not expected on the popular level that this Lebanese demand will be met.

In practice, Israel has demands contrary to the Lebanese demands, which is to obtain the Ali al-Taher heights.

These heights, which are right behind me directly here,

are being subjected to intensive Israeli attempts to gain full control over them,

which are practically besieged by Israeli forces, who try from time to time to bypass this area and advance further, which is

where Israeli forces are facing resistance from Hezbollah fighters.

According to what Hezbollah sources say, its fighters are ready to confront any advance.

And it will not allow Israeli forces to control this area.

Whether through politics or on the ground, Israeli forces are trying to control this area.

But in parallel, Zaher, they are also making attempts to advance in other southern Lebanese areas.

Which they had not entered during the war, like Haddatha, where they are conducting bombings and movements inside.

Thus, on the ground, things seem completely different and contrary to what is being agreed upon and discussed in negotiations.

The military delegation participating in the official Lebanese delegation also has maps regarding

the destroyed southern villages and towns. These maps will also be presented at the negotiating table.

The delegation was expanded to also include a surveying expert and an international law expert, who is

the Lebanese President's advisor for legal affairs.

This also means that there are new files that will be brought to the negotiating table, specifically

Regarding the demarcation of the land borders, which will also be an entry point to discuss the points from which Israeli forces are expected to withdraw.