Israel-Lebanon agreement: Prime Minister Netanyahu praises it, Hezbollah rejects it.
The US-brokered Israel-Lebanon agreement has immediately fallen into uncertainty. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as a major blow to Iran and Hezbollah, the Hezbollah leader declared the agreement "worthless."
According to AFP, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the Israel-Lebanon agreement a "heavy blow to Iran and Hezbollah." Conversely, the leader of the armed group, Naim Qassem, flatly rejected it, stating that the framework had no legal validity. These opposing positions highlight the significant contradictions surrounding an agreement that was expected to pave the way for peace and the disarmament process of Hezbollah.
The agreement was signed in Washington on June 26, after five rounds of negotiations, with the goal of ending the conflict between the two neighboring countries, including a plan to disarmament Hezbollah.
Hezbollah leader Qassem called the Israel-Lebanon agreement a "shameful act and a surrender of sovereignty." He also warned that implementing the document could lead to Israel annexing southern Lebanon.
"This agreement is completely worthless. The terms of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States must be implemented," Qassem emphasized. This statement refers to the agreement between the two powers aimed at ending the wider conflict in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Lebanon.
While Hezbollah strongly criticized the agreement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz affirmed that his country's troops would continue to be stationed in Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remained armed.
Minister Katz said he had instructed Israeli soldiers to "prepare for a prolonged stay" in southern Lebanon. He affirmed: "Israel will not redeploy forces, nor withdraw troops, until the Hezbollah terrorist organization is completely disarmed throughout Lebanese territory."
Prime Minister Netanyahu later reiterated this position in a televised press conference. He stated that both the United States and Lebanon "recognize Israel's right to maintain a security buffer zone inside Lebanon for as long as it is necessary to protect our security."
However, the Israel-Lebanon agreement also faced criticism from within Israel itself. On June 27, Security Minister Ben Gvir spoke out against the agreement, stating that only Israeli military forces were capable of disarming Hezbollah.
