Khaberni - Israel and Lebanon are conducting discussions in Washington about establishing "trial zones" in South Lebanon, where the Lebanese army will be asked to prove its ability to prevent a return of Hezbollah in exchange for a targeted Israeli withdrawal.
A new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington began yesterday (Tuesday), continuing until Thursday. This round focuses on attempting to reach detailed understandings regarding so-called "trial zones" within the talks, areas where the Lebanese army will be asked to prove its capability to take full security responsibility and prevent Hezbollah's return.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the idea of trial zones was proposed after the previous round of negotiations.
The concept aims, according to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, to test the Lebanese army's real-world ability to convert predetermined areas into "Hezbollah-free zones."
In return, Israel will carry out an organized and targeted withdrawal from those areas, under intense American supervision and protection.
This week's discussions will cover the plan details: the areas included in the trial phase, time schedules, monitoring and implementation mechanisms, and the indicators used to determine the success of the experiment.
The current round is divided into three stages: political discussions took place yesterday, security discussions will be held tomorrow, and the political and security teams from Israel and Lebanon will meet on Thursday in an attempt to reach conclusions.
In Israel, the current round is of particular importance, as the parties move from preliminary discussions to the implementation phase: a potential withdrawal by the Israeli army on one hand, and defining the responsibility that will fall on the Lebanese army on the other. According to informed sources, the Israeli delegation is expected to present detailed maps and provide the operational plan for the trial project.
Meanwhile, the Northern Command of the Israeli army is preparing for possible changes on the ground, according to political leadership decisions.
The Israeli army awaits decisions, and adjustments to its troop deployment in the field are already being studied if approval for a local withdrawal as part of the trial phase is given.
At the same time, Israel has provided the Americans with intelligence about Hezbollah's infrastructure in South Lebanon, in an effort to identify areas where the Lebanese army's capability to act against the party can be tested.
From Israel's perspective, the success of the trial project will not only be tested by the entry of the Lebanese army into the area but primarily through its ability to prevent the return of Hezbollah members, weapons, and military infrastructure to the areas from which the Israeli army will withdraw.
