Italy’s PM says suspending auto-renewal of defence agreement with Israel
“In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,” Italy’ PM Giorgia Meloni said on the sidelines of an event in Verona, according to Italian news agency Ansa.
The agreement involves the exchange of military equipment and technology research, news agencies reported.
Israel and Lebanon are holding talks. What do we know?
Israel and Lebanon are due to open formal talks in Washington, DC, today at the US State Department.
- Israel will be represented by its ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, who is a US-born far-right figure and a longtime settlement activist.
- Lebanon will be represented by its ambassador in Washington, DC, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, with the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michael Issa, also participating.
- The talks follow a precedent-breaking phone call between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors over the weekend, as the two countries have no formal diplomatic relations.
- The talks come amid intense international pressure on Israel to halt its invasion of Lebanon, which has killed more than 2,000 people and displaced over a million. Israeli forces continue their advance in southern Lebanon and have repeatedly hit the capital, Beirut.
- Israel says it will not negotiate a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which has publicly rejected Lebanon’s direct negotiations with Israel.
Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah continues amid US-sponsored diplomatic efforts
There’s been no letup in Israeli strikes.
Israel says the conflict with Hezbollah is continuing despite the opening of a US-sponsored diplomatic track.
Israel initially rejected Lebanon’s offer to negotiate. Even the Trump administration remained silent. The US-Iran ceasefire deal brought a shift in policy because Iran insisted Lebanon must be included. The US also agreed to re-engage with the authorities here after expressing frustration with their failure to disarm Hezbollah.
The group is on the front lines, engaging in direct confrontations with invading Israeli soldiers in recent weeks.
Israel is refusing to discuss a ceasefire, which is Lebanon’s condition before formal peace negotiations can begin. For now, negotiations are being conducted under fire.
