Lebanon, Israel make progress on pilot zone in Rome
Next: talks move to the technical stage in coming days, potentially opening an early Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Direct Lebanon-Israel talks over two days in Rome ended Wednesday with progress on a "pilot zone" plan in southern Lebanon. A U.S. official said the two sides agreed on the structure and guidelines for the process, which is expected to be completed and put into effect in the coming days. If implemented, the step could open the way for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It was the sixth round of face-to-face talks since the new war broke out on 2 March, and followed a 26 June framework agreement mediated by the U.S. Israel continues to tie any withdrawal to the disarmament of Hizbullah, while Lebanon is demanding an Israeli pullout first.