Israel and Lebanon, with American mediation, signed a framework agreement to resolve the conflict. It stipulates a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories in southern Lebanon. About this Reports The Times of Israel.
The document was signed by the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yehiel Leiter, and the Lebanese Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamada Moawad. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also attended the ceremony.
“This is the first step, and sometimes the hardest, but it is important,” Rubio said. “And we did it together. There is a lot of work ahead of us. We in no way underestimate the complexity of the task ahead of us, but we recognize its importance, its vital importance, and we are honored to play our part in achieving it.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maleThe signed agreement will allow Israel to maintain a “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon. According to him, the Israeli army will remain there until the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group is disarmed and “as long as there is a threat to the State of Israel.”
he He explainedThe Israeli army will withdraw from two areas in southern Lebanon – north and south of the Litani River. The Lebanese Armed Forces will occupy these territories.
The Israeli Prime Minister said: “This is also a serious blow to Iran. Iran is trying to force us to withdraw our forces from southern Lebanon. Now Israel, Lebanon and the United States are saying to Iran: This is none of your business. You have no place in Lebanon. Neither you nor Hezbollah nor any other terrorist organization.”
Lebanese Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamada Moawad, indicated that the agreement is “the first step towards restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and ensuring the final cessation of hostilities.”