Israel and Lebanon will hold their sixth round of direct negotiations in Rome on 15 and 16 July, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced. The ambassador-level talks follow a US-brokered framework agreement signed on 26 June that calls for Lebanese army deployment in the south and Hezbollah disarmament starting with pilot zones.
Lebanese officials have accused Israel of evading implementation of the pilot areas and blocking the return of southern residents ahead of its next parliamentary elections. Beirut demanded US guarantees of continued American engagement before agreeing to shift the venue to Italy. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is also preparing a visit to Washington as Beirut seeks to pressure Israel on the deal's terms.
Meanwhile, a new report by Peace Now and Kerem Navot found Israel is expanding control over the West Bank at an unprecedented pace, prompting warnings from Germany against weakening the Palestinian Authority.