Lebanon fears Netanyahu may delay negotiations until after Israeli elections

Lebanese officials and diplomats have expressed concerns that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may delay Lebanon-Israel negotiations until after the Israeli Knesset elections, scheduled for October 27. This potential delay threatens to stall U.S.-led efforts to break the current diplomatic deadlock.

Lebanon is looking toward U.S. intervention to pressure Israel into facilitating an eighth round of negotiations, potentially hosted in Rome. The goal is to implement a phased ‘Framework Agreement’ that includes expanding a ‘test zone’ to include occupied southern towns and establishing an international verification mechanism to ensure the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the absence of Hezbollah weaponry in those areas.

Diplomatic efforts are also focused on the recent positive meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. Lebanese sources hope this momentum will translate into progress on the negotiations. While Hezbollah seeks to link the Lebanese track to U.S.-Iran understandings, Washington maintains that the two issues should remain separate.