Behind-the-scenes details revealed for the first time... Israeli withdrawal ignites the first complications in the talks

Sources at Baabda Palace told Al-Jadeed that the start of the negotiating session was delayed by more than an hour due to the late arrival of the Israeli delegation and part of the US delegation, leading to a postponement of the talks.

The sources explained that the Lebanese side focused during the negotiations on establishing the implementation mechanisms for the framework agreement, stressing that the priority is Israel’s withdrawal from the very first inch of Lebanese territory before moving on to any subsequent steps.

They added that the Lebanese position is based on the principle of considering the model area to be occupied land, which requires that the implementation of any field arrangements begin with the withdrawal of Israeli forces from it.

By contrast, the sources indicated that the Israeli side is demanding a clear mechanism to verify the deployment of the Lebanese army and the application of the model area framework immediately upon the withdrawal’s implementation, amid ongoing discussions over the details of execution and field guarantees.