TUNIS, August 11. /TASS/. Lebanon will hold off on naming a date for the next round of US-brokered talks with Israel until its demands are met, the Al Araby television channel reported, citing an official Lebanese source.
"We are in no rush to appoint the date for the next round of negotiations with Israel until the Israeli side accepts our demands," the source said, adding that Beirut insists on expanding the so-called pilot zones free from Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, consolidating the ceasefire, and halting strikes on infrastructure.
The Al Mayadeen television channel reported on Monday, citing a diplomatic source, that the next round of consultations will not be held earlier than this fall, with no direct contacts between the sides maintained at the moment. "If a new round of talks is ultimately organized, it is likely to happen after summer is over," the source said. He ruled out any opportunity for direct talks between the countries at this point.
The seventh round of US-mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel was held in Rome on August 4-6.
Following five rounds of US-brokered consultations in Washington, Lebanon and Israel signed, on June 26, a framework agreement, under which the Lebanese military is to gradually restore effective sovereign control over the entire Lebanese territory while Israel is to withdraw its troops from the occupied areas. The agreement provides for the establishment of the so-called pilot zones, or areas where Israeli troops are to be evacuated from. The Lebanese army began establishing the first pilot zone in the south of the country in late July.