US envoy counsels patience ahead of next round of Israel-Lebanon talks

A day before the seventh round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in Rome, the US ambassador to Lebanon encourages patience in implementing the trilateral agreement signed in June.

“A great deal of technical work remains to ensure civilian safety on the ground,” says Michel Issa in a statement. “There is a meaningful difference between drafting an agreement on paper and implementing it responsibly — moving too quickly risks jeopardizing the very civilians this process is meant to protect.”

“We believe it is better to take the time needed to get this right the first time,” he says. “Doing so will allow subsequent pilot zones to move forward more efficiently. Above all, both sides must agree on a clear, workable process before proceeding.”

The June deal called for the Lebanese military to deploy in pilot areas in southern Lebanon where the Hezbollah terror group had a military presence and influence, and for Israel to withdraw from its declared security zone in the south, dependent on Hezbollah disarmament.

The IDF carried out its first withdrawal from a pilot zone in southern Lebanon two weeks ago, though Beirut has since accused Jerusalem of hampering efforts by the Lebanese Armed Forces to operate in that area.