Israel has reportedly asked for the remains of Jews buried in Lebanon to be transferred to Israel as part of ongoing negotiations between Jerusalem and Beirut over a broader permanent agreement.

According to a report Monday in the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, Israeli negotiators raised the issue of numerous Jewish graves in Beirut and Sidon belonging to people whose relatives now live in Israel.

The request was reportedly raised during discussions concerning Lebanese prisoners being held by Israel following the war in Lebanon.

Lebanon is seeking the release of Lebanese detainees, while Israel reportedly proposed incorporating the transfer of Jewish remains into what it described as a “civilian prisoner exchange deal.”

Under the reported proposal, Israel would release some of the Lebanese detainees while excluding Hezbollah operatives, and Lebanon would permit the remains of Jews buried in the country to be transferred to Israel.

A separate report by Saudi Arabia’s Asharq News said recent negotiations in Rome included a “legal” track focused on Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, distinct from discussions concerning captured Hezbollah terrorists.

The Saudi outlet described the atmosphere surrounding those discussions as “positive.”

Lebanon was once home to a substantial Jewish community with roots stretching back centuries. Unlike most Arab countries, Lebanon’s Jewish population initially grew following Israel’s establishment in 1948 and eventually reached approximately 10,000.

The community subsequently declined dramatically, falling to only several hundred by the 1970s. Today, no more than a few dozen Jews are believed to remain in Lebanon.

The reported request comes as Israel and Lebanon continue U.S.-mediated negotiations aimed at reaching a broader arrangement following the recent war.

During negotiations in Washington in June, the sides agreed to a framework that reportedly includes the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in areas currently controlled by Israel.

The process is expected to begin in designated “pilot zones” before potentially expanding to additional areas.

Israel and Lebanon held their seventh round of U.S.-mediated negotiations last week as efforts continue to reach a long-term agreement governing security along the border and the future of southern Lebanon.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)