Israel has set a key condition in the ongoing negotiations with Lebanon, demanding the return of the remains of Israeli prisoners who fell in Lebanon since 1975, according to Lebanese MTV, citing informed sources who said that the Lebanese side considers this a difficult demand.
The report said that lists of prisoners have already begun to be exchanged between the two sides, marking limited progress in the talks despite continuing disagreements.
Despite the challenges, the sources said Lebanon is not planning to withdraw from negotiations with Israel, and September 1 remains a possible date for the next round of talks in Rome, although the date has not yet been officially confirmed. According to the sources, the date is still on the table. However, no formal confirmation has been issued.
MTV also reported that Hezbollah continues to refuse to withdraw from the Ali al-Taher Ridge, where dozens of Hezbollah terrorists are thought to be garrisoned underground, and to hand the site over to the Lebanese Army, despite Israel having agreed to the move.
The sources further told MTV that Israel is not currently prepared to withdraw from additional pilot zones. The two sides have also not yet reached agreement on which party will verify that the pilot areas have been cleared, nor on the mechanism for carrying out such verification.
Italy, Britain and Switzerland are among the countries being considered to form the monitoring body for implementation of the pilot zones, MTV reported. However, the matter has not been finalized, as the working mechanism, responsibilities and limits of the participating countries have not yet been determined.
The report comes amid ongoing US-mediated discussions between Israel and Lebanon over implementation of the broader framework agreement, including pilot zones in southern Lebanon. Previous reports indicated that the Rome negotiations have focused on expanding these zones and establishing verification and clearance arrangements.