Israel-Lebanon talks progress as US rejects permanent presence

Lebanon's President Aoun said talks between Israel and Lebanon are progressing and called for a full Israeli withdrawal, while the US rejected the idea of a permanent Israeli military presence in Lebanon after comments by Israeli minister Katz. Lebanon's amnesty law allows families of former SLA fighters who fled to Israel to return. Meanwhile, former German ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert sharply criticized Israeli settlement policy, and a report said minister Barkat co-led a Likud effort to oust and replace Netanyahu after Oct. 7.