BEIRUT — Lebanon is gearing up for a third round of US-mediated talks with Israel in Washington on Thursday amid growing pressure on Beirut to disarm Hezbollah and ongoing Israeli bombardment despite the ceasefire.

The talks are expected to take place at the State Department over two days, unlike previous meetings that lasted only a few hours, suggesting a broader agenda. A State Department official said the Lebanese and Israeli delegations will convene on Thursday and Friday.

The official defined the agenda around building “a framework for lasting peace and security arrangements, the full restoration of Lebanese sovereignty throughout its territory, the delineation of borders, and creating concrete pathways for humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Lebanon.” 

But the official added that comprehensive peace between Israel and Lebanon “is contingent on the full restoration of Lebanese state authority and the complete disarmament of Hezbollah.” 
Israel and Lebanon will discuss a security agreement, reported Israeli public broadcaster Kan. The agreement is expected to address both the disarmament of Hezbollah and the demarcation of the border between the two countries. Joint working groups are expected to be established to address these issues, Kan reported. Israeli officials said the country’s military forces will remain in positions inside Lebanon during the talks.

Longer format, more political weight?

The US official did not say who would participate in the meeting. Several local and regional news reports said the talks will involve larger delegations with higher-level diplomatic representation.