“Lebanon Debate” – Fadi Eid
Within 24 hours of the first round of meetings in Rome, which will put the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel to its first practical test, the internal political scene intensified as the fire returned to the regional stage, while the southern square awaits whether the United States will be able to translate its pledges into field measures that will open the door to a new phase of calm, by starting practical steps through the gradual Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories.
However, with Israel attracting more international and American pressure after expanding the circle of escalation in the south in recent days, Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempt to obstruct Washington’s path has become clear, which puts tomorrow’s Rome meetings to an exceptional test.
Hence, Israel’s intended and deliberate delay in implementing the framework agreement acquires a different character today than in the past period, as the negotiators’ sitting in Rome coincides with a change in the Iranian strategy and an Israeli persistence in aggression against the south. Therefore, well-informed diplomatic circles are talking about the necessity of securing American “support” for the process of implementing the “framework,” to prevent delaying the proposed dates.
Since the Rome round precedes the Lebanese-American summit, its results will constitute a fundamental factor in setting the agenda for the upcoming meeting in Washington, so that the current stage no longer revolves around formulating general principles, but rather around implementation mechanisms, through establishing security, technical and legal arrangements that guarantee the implementation of what was reached during the previous negotiations.
Therefore, diplomatic circles say that the focus of the Lebanese delegation in Rome will be on organizing the Israeli withdrawal steps in parallel with the deployment of the Lebanese army in the areas that will be evacuated, in a way that prevents any security vacuum and establishes permanent stability along the southern border. Discussion will also take place in forming specialized working teams to follow up on the executive files away from political debates.
The circles acknowledge that the success of this stage remains linked to the American role, not only in describing Washington as a sponsor of the negotiations, but as the party capable of obliging the two parties to implement the pledges, especially with regard to stopping Israeli military operations and completing the withdrawal according to an agreed upon schedule. They consider that any positive field steps in the coming days will give the negotiations additional momentum, and will also provide a more suitable atmosphere for President Donald Trump’s meeting with President Joseph Aoun, who is relied upon to launch a stage that goes beyond halting the escalation towards stabilization. And the beginning of the reconstruction process with international support.
On the other hand, some points still need more clarity, especially in terms of time limits and implementation mechanisms, which makes the Rome meetings a turning point for dispelling ambiguities and building confidence between the parties concerned.
Data available to diplomatic circles indicate that military and technical contacts have intensified over the past few days with the aim of completing preparations, amid expectations that the first phase will witness gradual measures that ensure the smooth transfer of security responsibilities, with an American supervisory role to keep pace with implementation and address any violations that may hinder the path.
Accordingly, if these steps succeed, circles consider that they may constitute the beginning of a different phase in southern Lebanon, the goal of which will be to stabilize calm, strengthen the state’s presence, and create political and security conditions to launch the reconstruction workshop that Lebanon has been waiting for for years.
