Netanyahu hails Israel-Lebanon deal as blow to Iran, orders army to prepare for prolonged stay in southern Lebanon
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US-brokered framework agreement with Lebanon as a 'blow to Iran and Hezbollah', while Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to ready for a prolonged presence in the southern security zone.
The agreement
Israel and Lebanon concluded a framework agreement on Friday under US auspices to end hostilities. The pact, which Netanyahu described as historic, was the outcome of direct negotiations between the two states. The prime minister cast the deal as a strategic setback for Iran and its Lebanese proxy.
We have concluded a historic agreement for the State of Israel, following direct negotiations [with Lebanon]. It is a blow to Iran and Hezbollah.
Military posture
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Saturday that the army had been ordered to prepare for a " prolonged stay" in the roughly ten-kilometre-wide security zone Israel controls inside Lebanese territory. He stressed there would be no redeployment or withdrawal until Hezbollah is disarmed across all of Lebanon. Katz also warned that any Iranian attack aimed at disrupting the agreement would be met with "great force".
- Israel and Lebanon sign a US-brokered framework agreement to end hostilities.
- Netanyahu hails the deal as a blow to Iran and Hezbollah; Defense Minister Katz orders the army to prepare for a prolonged stay in southern Lebanon.
- Far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir denounces the agreement as a 'big mistake'.
- France declares its readiness to contribute to the implementation of the accord.
Political reactions in Israel
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir denounced the framework as a "big mistake", arguing that the Lebanese state will not disarm Hezbollah. Separately, Netanyahu, aged 76, told reporters he intends to form a broad national government if he wins the next parliamentary elections, explicitly distancing himself from both the far right and the left.
Certainly, we remain for the moment on the majority of [Lebanese] territory, but the Lebanese state will not disarm Hezbollah.
International response
France declared its readiness to contribute to the implementation of the agreement. Paris called for the text to pave the way for the full recovery of Lebanese sovereignty within its borders.
France is ready to contribute to the implementation of the framework agreement, which should open the way to the full recovery of Lebanese sovereignty.
