Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met Pope Leo XIV in Rome on Thursday in his latest bid for international support as he seeks full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Mr Aoun appealed to the Pope’s “spiritual presence” and influence to help press for Israel’s withdrawal, a source close to the presidency told The National. The visit comes as talks between Israel and Lebanon appear to have stalled, with no date set for a next round.
The Lebanese President will also meet his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Rome was the venue of recent negotiations, which appear to have stalled over the composition of a committee to oversee progress on the ground.
The committee is to monitor compliance with a framework agreement announced in June to end the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory and disarm Hezbollah.
Mr Aoun’s meetings in Rome come as Lebanon seeks to maintain international support for the deal's implementation while negotiations continue. Although the next round of talks is meant to take place in September, the Lebanese political source said Israel has yet to confirm the dates.
In July, Mr Aoun took his appeal for Israeli withdrawal to the White House at his first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump. There were no clear breakthroughs on the peace negotiations, although The National revealed this week that the US had agreed to study possible economic support for Lebanon.
During his half-hour meeting at the Vatican on Thursday, Mr Aoun thanked Pope Leo for backing Lebanon in its efforts to end Israel's occupation and attacks, the Lebanese Presidency said.
He called on the pontiff to continue supporting Lebanon's demands, “foremost among which is obligating Israel to implement the provisions of the framework formula, and the immediate cessation of its aggressions on the villages and infrastructure in the south and on civilians, and its withdrawal from the areas it occupies”.
The latest rounds of Lebanon-Israel talks, held at the US embassy in Rome, have focused on the creation of so-called “pilot zones” – designated areas in which Israeli forces would withdraw, the Lebanese army would assume control and Hezbollah would disarm. So far, Israel has only withdrawn from two pilot zones.
Lebanon and Israel have disagreed over which countries should join a third-party verification body that determines whether the pilot zones have been cleared. Italy is believed to be among those under consideration and has expressed readiness to take part.
“The basis is both countries would have to agree. The Israelis have to agree,” the Lebanese political source said. According to Israeli media, Israel is rejecting the consideration of nations that have taken diplomatic actions against it in the past, such as France.
No progress has been made on a shortlist of countries, the Lebanese source added.
The committee would verify that Hezbollah has disarmed in these areas, that the Lebanese army has assumed control, and that Israeli forces have withdrawn.
Israel has refused to discuss the establishment of further pilot zones until a verification committee is created – something which Lebanese sources have told The National it is dragging its feet on.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military operations in southern Lebanon continue to be a major obstacle. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said Israel will not withdraw from the “security zone” it has declared in the area.
During a visit to Israeli forces in southern Lebanon on August 12, Mr Katz said he had instructed the military to prepare for a “long-term presence” in security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.
“As the Prime Minister and I have clearly stated, we are not withdrawing from this security zone,” Mr Katz said. Israel would “clear this area and ensure the security of the residents of the north”, he added.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has rejected disarming while Israeli forces remain in Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah spokesman Youssef Al Zain told The National the group is not against the Lebanese state negotiating for Israel's withdrawal.
“We are not saying ‘don’t negotiate’. We are saying 'negotiate with leverage',” Mr Al Zain said, before warning that Lebanon's reliance on US-brokerage will lead only to “more Israeli demands, without anything in return”.
