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Israel is trying to delay ongoing negotiations with Lebanon until after its elections in October, a Lebanese source reportedly told Al Jazeera Arabic, arguing that Israeli criticism of southern Lebanon’s “pilot zones” is part of an effort to buy time.
The source said Israeli claims that the pilot zones for military units in southern Lebanon had failed were a “delaying tactic.”
“We tried to spare the Ali al-Taher heights from the battle, but our efforts were unsuccessful,” the source said. “Israeli military indicators do not point to a military development that goes beyond Ali al-Taher.”
The Lebanese source said there was “no negligence” by the Lebanese army, but added that authorities wanted to avoid internal bloodshed.
“Israel does not want an international force in the south and seeks direct contact with the Lebanese army,” the source said.
The government had also sent messages to Hezbollah seeking consultations, saying the group could be useful in state-led negotiations, but had received no response.
“There is an international consensus that Hezbollah cannot be disarmed by force or quickly,” the source added.
Israeli media reported Thursday that Israel had informed the U.S. through security channels that the pilot-zone project in southern Lebanon had failed.
Walla reported that Tel Aviv was dissatisfied with the Lebanese army’s handling of infrastructure that Israel claims belongs to Hezbollah.
Unnamed Israeli security officials alleged that the Lebanese army had not destroyed infrastructure at locations whose coordinates were provided by Israel while continuing to request additional coordinates.
Israeli military officials also claimed Lebanese army commander Rodolph Haykal was reluctant to confront Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon and that searches for weapons and infrastructure were not being carried out as thoroughly as Israel wanted.
“Israel is dissatisfied, and therefore it is not rushing to agree on additional pilot zones,” an Israeli security official said.
The report also claimed that a Lebanese army unit entered several meters into an underground opening at one location identified by Israel before withdrawing without continuing the search.
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