A third round in the talks between Israel and Lebanon was held today in Khalde, near Beirut, but negotiators for both sides were unable to announce a breakthrough regarding the agenda. An official communique said efforts to reach an agreed agenda would continue in Kiryat Shmona Thursday. The talks, which began last Tuesday, are alternating between the two towns.
The atmosphere at today’s negotiations continued to be good, and it was reflected in comments to the media by the head of Lebanon’s delegation, Ambassador Antoine Fatale. He said he was confident beyond the shadow of a doubt that a compromise would eventually be found to the problem of the agenda. All beginnings are difficult, he noted, and more time was required.
Israel and Lebanon are at odds over the inclusion of an item on normalization of relations in the agenda. Israel has indicated that it is willing to drop the term normalization as long as the process itself would be discussed.
Fatale made a point of observing that both sides were showing flexibility. He added that even in the absence of an agreed agenda work could begin on tackling several of the basic issues. The parties have already agreed to three agenda items: termination of the state of war, withdrawal of foreign forces and security zones.
Israeli officials say that Thursday’s session at Kiryat Shmona might be brightened up by a visit there by Elizabeth Taylor as part of her current solo peace mission to the area.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
