Mapping villages and restricting residents' return: Israel's new demands in Lebanon

Israel has convinced the US to prepare new working documents for the framework agreement in Lebanon, according to sources who spoke with the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar. The American draft adopts a significant portion of the Israeli approach, including a comprehensive mapping of southern Lebanese villages and preventing the return of residents deemed a security risk. The demands align with the new 'security zone' concept revealed by Walla in June.

Israel has succeeded in convincing the United States to prepare new working documents regarding the framework agreement in Lebanon, as reported today (Monday) by sources who spoke with the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with Hezbollah. According to those sources, the US Central Command, responsible for coordinating ties between the Lebanese army and the IDF, presented a draft 'implementation protocol' defining the operational mechanisms for the implementation phase of the security annex. According to the sources, the American side adopted in this draft a significant portion of the Israeli approach, particularly the clauses that pressure the Lebanese army, either to push it into a confrontation with Hezbollah or with residents of border villages, or to portray it as incapable of fulfilling the required commitments. Such a thing could provide Israel with a pretext to continue its occupation and avoid any withdrawal, they said. The sources added that the Israeli proposals include conducting a comprehensive mapping of villages in southern Lebanon, which would include recording the number of houses, names of owners, shops, and religious and social institutions. It was also reported that Israel demands the Lebanese army prevent the return of some village residents, based on lists prepared by Israeli intelligence of those it claims are activists or military commanders in Hezbollah, and that their presence constitutes a 'security risk' to Israel. The demands align with the security concept revealed by Walla in June, according to which Israel is working to establish a new 'security zone' in southern Lebanon based on an area without civilian presence. According to the report, the plan includes control of the area, military freedom of action against Hezbollah, and preventing the rehabilitation of terrorist infrastructure, as part of a change in Israel's security concept on the northern border.