Lebanon and Israel prepare talks in Tampa on southern security — Asharq Al-Awsat

Lebanon and Israel are preparing for the next round of talks in Tampa, Florida, where unresolved military and security issues in southern Lebanon are expected to be the main topic. As Asharq Al-Awsat reports, discussions are underway in Lebanon over whether the increased military component of the talks means a shift to a separate mechanism for governing the southern areas.

Issues on the ground

An unnamed ministerial source told the publication that the sides are not moving toward military administration of the country’s south. According to the source, the talks concern halting bulldozing work, house demolitions, shelling and military operations, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the designation of new model areas, the issue of prisoners and the return of residents to villages.

The source noted that hostilities continue, albeit at lower intensity. In the source’s view, it is impossible to fully advance other areas without a minimum level of security and stability: the deployment of the Lebanese army, the return of civilians and political arrangements.

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The role of the United States

According to Asharq Al-Awsat’s interlocutor, the United States is currently focused on resolving security issues with Israel, including completing the withdrawal of forces and halting shelling, destruction and bulldozing work. The source stressed that the talks had political and military tracks from the outset, and that the current focus on security does not cancel the political format.

Different assessments of the talks

MP Ashraf Rifi believes that the process is going beyond discussing the withdrawal of Israeli forces and is moving toward military, intelligence and security administration of southern Lebanon under U.S. supervision. He also expressed expectations of a new intense round of hostilities in the country’s southern areas.

Former Lebanese ambassador to Washington Antoine Shdid disputed this interpretation. He said that the Lebanese army implements decisions of the government, the political leadership and the president, and cannot independently conduct negotiations with Israel. In his view, the meeting in Tampa continues the previous political process discussed in Washington and Rome, although the venue and the composition of participants may create the impression of purely military talks.