Israel is considering Switzerland as a possible country to provide a civilian force to supervise implementation of a future agreement with Lebanon, i24NEWS reported, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.

Senior Swiss officials have held several meetings in Jerusalem and Washington in recent months, including in February, as Switzerland has emerged as one of the leading candidates for a supervisory role.

During the latest round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome, Israeli officials made clear that there would be no expansion of the existing buffer zone before examining how the current zones function. Israel also rejected several other possible supervisory arrangements, including Turkish or Qatari involvement, and said international courts in The Hague would not be acceptable for overseeing implementation of the agreement.

Switzerland is being considered in part because Swiss Ambassador to Israel Simon Geissbühler has strong relations with Israel’s political leadership, while Switzerland also maintains close ties with the Lebanese government. Sources involved in the talks said Switzerland has a proven record as an independent country in similar missions and is viewed as an option Israel could accept.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)