Israel and Lebanon are set to commence border negotiations following a ceasefire, involving discussions with France and the US. Key topics include Israeli troop presence and Lebanese detainees. Despite Israeli gestures of goodwill, the complexities and ambitions for normalization may complicate the talks.
Israel and Lebanon have consented to initiate discussions regarding their contested land border shortly after the ceasefire concluded the latest conflict. This decision follows nearly four months of tense relations, and discussions will involve representatives from Israel, Lebanon, France, and the United States to address various pertinent issues, including Israeli troop presence in southern Lebanon and the release of Lebanese detainees held in Israel.
In a significant gesture towards the new Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Israel freed five Lebanese prisoners this week, who had been detained during last year’s conflict. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) currently maintain control over five locations in southern Lebanon, citing threats from Hezbollah against northern Israeli territories, while Hezbollah accuses Israel of not complying with the ceasefire due to ongoing military operations.
The specifics of the forthcoming talks remain ambiguous. A senior Israeli official relayed to the Times of Israel that the primary goal of the negotiations is to achieve normalization with Lebanon. Conversely, a US official informed Fox News that the aspirations for mutual recognition and normalization may be overly ambitious and could impede progress towards establishing a definitive border. Furthermore, the Lebanese government has dismissed suggestions that the discussions might pave the way for permanent normalization of relations.
In summary, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to reopen dialogue about their disputed border, involving significant stakeholders such as France and the United States. While Israel has made conciliatory gestures by releasing detainees, the complexities of military presence and past grievances complicate the normalization process. Observers caution that the ambitions for normalization could hinder concretizing border agreements. The Lebanese government firmly denies any intention for permanent normalization as discussions unfold.
Original Source: www.gzeromedia.com
