Lebanon demands Israel’s withdrawal from two “pilot zones” in the south before participating in the next round of direct talks in Rome next week, a Lebanese diplomatic source tells AFP.
The source, requesting anonymity, says “Lebanon is stipulating Israel’s withdrawal from two pilot zones in order to participate in the round of negotiations” that Italy and Israel said would take place in Rome on July 15 and 16, following a framework agreement signed last month.
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel last month that more time was needed for the IDF to withdraw from one of the two pilot zones in southern Lebanon from which it had agreed to pull back as part of the US-brokered framework deal inked with Beirut. (Ed note: This is a joke. The government and army of Lebanon have little or no control over Hezbollah, so they lean on Israel. Why doesn't Hezbollah withdraw from the "pilot zones" and give northern Israel some peace for a change?) (Source)
