As Israel and Lebanon continue a sixth round of direct talks in Rome, discussions are reportedly centered on transferring two pilot zones in southern Lebanon from IDF control to the Lebanese Armed Forces as part of a broader security framework.

Under the proposal, the Lebanese army would assume responsibility for security in the designated areas and work to disarm Hezbollah.

However, some Lebanese citizens are expressing skepticism over whether the army is capable of carrying out that mission.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, a Lebanese citizen opposed to Hezbollah said peace between Israel and Lebanon is “a shared and urgent need for both sides,” but argued that the Lebanese army cannot realistically dismantle the Iranian-backed terror organization.

“The militia that Iran established must leave completely,” he said. “The one capable of removing it is certainly not the Lebanese army, because it is managed along sectarian lines and is not capable of carrying out the mission.”

He further claimed that Hezbollah could only be disarmed through military force or by an agreed-upon international force tasked with dismantling the organization.

Meanwhile, public discussion in Lebanon over possible normalization with Israel has become increasingly open.

During a televised debate on Lebanon’s MTV channel, Ali Khalifa, a Shiite professor and outspoken Hezbollah opponent, said he would gladly “drink whiskey in Tel Aviv” if Israel and Lebanon were to sign a peace agreement.

The remark sparked immediate backlash from other panelists, with one accusing Khalifa of betraying the Shiite community. Khalifa responded that he was expressing a personal opinion, underscoring the growing divide within Lebanon over the prospect of peace with Israel.

The public debate comes as diplomatic and security contacts between Jerusalem and Beirut continue behind the scenes.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)