Media: Lebanon sees no breakthrough in Israel talks before Knesset elections

Lebanon does not expect a significant breakthrough in negotiations with Israel before Israel's parliamentary (Knesset) elections on October 27,  The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports, citing sources.

According to the report, Beirut also sees little prospect of progress on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon before the vote. The newspaper said such a move would be unpopular among supporters of Israel's far-right parties, whose backing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to need to form a governing coalition.

The report follows the seventh round of US-mediated talks between Lebanese and Israeli delegations, held in Rome from August 4 to 6.

Earlier, Al Hadath, citing sources, reported that the two sides had agreed on a shortlist of candidate countries to act as observers monitoring compliance with the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

The broadcaster also said the parties had completed the geographical assessment of areas that could become new "pilot zones" for the withdrawal of Israeli forces, although a final decision has been deferred pending political approval.

Lebanon and Israel signed a US-brokered framework agreement on 26 June after five rounds of negotiations in Washington. Under the agreement, the Lebanese Armed Forces are to gradually restore effective sovereign control over the country's entire territory, while Israeli troops are to withdraw from designated "pilot zones". The Lebanese army began deploying to the first such zone in southern Lebanon in late July.