American sources revealed to Al-Hadath channel that there are moves to chart two separate tracks for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, indicating that the political negotiations will be held in Rome, while the city of Tampa in the US state of Florida may host the military talks.
The sources explained that the American ambassador in Beirut plays the role of mediator between all parties, and that he asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hand over Ali Al-Taher Hill to Lebanon.
According to the sources, Israel has expressed its commitment to complete withdrawal from Lebanon if it obtains guarantees related to the security of its borders, but at the same time it refuses to implement any new withdrawals from southern Lebanon before completing work in what are known as “model areas.”
On the other hand, the Lebanese side confirmed to American officials that it is carrying out its duties in these areas without media support, at a time when an agreement has not yet been reached regarding the country that can monitor the work of the Lebanese army in the south.
The sources indicated that Israel is demanding that the Lebanese state take clear steps to confront Hezbollah’s capabilities, in conjunction with reports accusing the Lebanese army leadership of favoring the party.
The sources also quoted the American and Israeli sides as saying that the Lebanese army “does not have the will to confront Hezbollah,” in the context of increasing pressures related to the security arrangements required in southern Lebanon.
In a parallel track, sources revealed that Lebanon and Israel are officially discussing the fate of missing Jews since the 1980s, which adds a new sensitive file to the agenda of the ongoing American-brokered talks.
The American demand to hand over Ali Al-Taher Hill comes after this point turned into one of the most prominent files raised in discussions related to the future of military deployment in southern Lebanon, the mechanism for implementing the Israeli withdrawal, and border control arrangements.
