Simon Karam heads to Rome to lead Lebanon’s delegation as Beirut seeks to consolidate the ceasefire, while Israeli escalation threatens the path of negotiations.
The head of the Lebanese negotiating delegation, former Ambassador Simon Karam, is expected to head to Rome within the next two days to lead Lebanon’s delegation in the new round of direct negotiations with Israel, thereby putting to rest the rumors that had recently circulated about his intention to resign as head of the delegation, informed political sources told Annahar yesterday.
The seventh round of negotiations is not being held in the wake of the outcome of the summit meeting between President Joseph Aoun and US President Donald Trump at the White House last week, despite the support Trump expressed during the meeting as a sign of firm US commitment and backing for Lebanon, its president and its army. This support was expected to translate into discussions on the second phase of the pilot areas, following the success of the first phase.
Rather, the round will inevitably take place in light of the outcome of Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was preceded by a sharp security and military escalation that could threaten the course of previous understandings and, consequently, any potential success of the negotiations.
The Israeli escalation, accompanied by wide-ranging threats against Lebanon, has already cast a shadow of failure over the talks, particularly if the Israeli delegation in Rome ties these threats and operations to a pre-set decision aimed at improving its negotiating terms, in order to ensure that the security belt it insists on maintaining to guarantee the security of the northern border is not brought up.
It is known that the Lebanese delegation will enter the negotiations, in accordance with the directives of the President of the Republic, with Lebanon’s priority demand: stopping Israeli attacks and consolidating the ceasefire, paving the way for ensuring the return of residents and launching reconstruction efforts.
The Israeli escalation on the eve of the negotiating round does not indicate that Tel Aviv wants to continue the negotiating process except under the sound of fire and while rejecting any withdrawals that the meetings may lead to an agreement on, as part of the launch of the second phase of the pilot areas. This is because this phase is entirely different from the first one, during which the occupation was limited.
What is on the table today falls within what Israel has classified as the “yellow line.” Israel therefore remains committed to its conditions, which are based on three “no’s”: no withdrawal from areas inside this line; no relinquishing what it considers its right to freedom of movement and security operations; and no reversal of its decision to ensure that the areas where its army is deployed are free of Hezbollah members and weapons.
This is what makes the coming days before the seventh round of negotiations decisive in determining the fate of the next phase, amid the drums of war beating both inside Lebanon and across the region.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Annahar.
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