WASHINGTON — The next round of US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place in early September in Rome, a State Department official announced Tuesday, after officials from both countries recognized setbacks during last week’s talks.

“The political track will reconvene in Rome in early September, and conversations will continue in Beirut, Jerusalem, and Washington in the interim,” the official said. “We feel good about the trajectory.”

Last week’s round of US-sponsored talks ended early on their second day, amid an escalation in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Beirut is also frustrated with the pace of Israeli withdrawals, feeling that Jerusalem is dragging its feet ahead of October elections, while Israel argues that verification of Hezbollah disarmament must be completed first.

Nonetheless, a State Department spokesperson insisted that the three days of talks last week were “constructive” and saw the sides reach understandings on the parameters that must be met to verify that a particular area has been cleared of Hezbollah infrastructure in order to “unlock future pilot zones.”

In June, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a framework deal that involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon’s south and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces to the region, starting in test areas known as “pilot zones.”

So far, two such zones exist, with the ultimate goal being that the pilot zones will be replicated to the point where Israel has completely pulled out of southern Lebanon.

Talks last week in Rome were the seventh round since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Iran.

Israeli forces responded........

© The Times of Israel