Ortagus to discuss Lebanon sticking points with officials in Israel, report says

Deputy U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Morgan Ortagus will arrive soon in Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli officials in a diplomatic bid to resolve several outstanding issues between Lebanon and Israel, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper said.

The daily said Monday that Ortagus will prepare a framework to the implementation of three sticking points -- the release of Lebanese prisoners, the remaining disputed points along the Blue Line, and the remaining 5 points where Israeli forces are still deployed.

If an understanding is reached with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on the outlines, Ortagus might then visit Beirut, Asharq al-Awsat added.

Ortagus had said earlier this month that the U.S. will be "bringing together Lebanon and Israel for talks aimed at diplomatically resolving several outstanding issues between the two countries."

Israel said its troops will be indefinitely occupying five "strategic hills" in south Lebanon, violating a ceasefire agreement reached in late November that required Israeli troops to fully withdraw from Lebanon. The ceasefire also required Hezbollah to pull back north of the Litani River and to dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.