Netanyahu Hails Historic Agreement as Blow to Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the newly announced US-mediated framework agreement with Lebanon as a turning point that effectively sidelines Tehran, calling it a 'massive blow to Iran and Hezbollah.' Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Netanyahu thanked US leadership for mediating the agreement and extended greetings to the Lebanese government and public for showing 'great courage.' He also hailed Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter for representing Israel's expectations from the accord.
In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote: 'Dear citizens of Israel, yesterday before the start of the Sabbath, we achieved a historic accomplishment for the State of Israel. Following direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the US, we have reached a framework of understandings that allows us to move forward toward ending the conflict, and, G-d willing, eventually reaching a peace agreement between the two countries.'
Security Zone and Disarmament Provisions
Under the terms of the understanding, Israel will maintain a security zone within Lebanon, which Netanyahu stated will remain under Israeli control until the disarmament of terrorist organizations is complete and threats to the northern border are neutralized. 'Under these understandings, the US and Lebanon have recognized Israel's right to maintain the security zone inside Lebanon for as long as it is required for our security. We will continue to hold it until Hezbollah and the rest of the terrorist organizations are disarmed, and until no further threat to Israel is posed from Lebanon,' he said.
Netanyahu framed the key component of the deal—a pilot program in two specific zones near the Yellow Line—as a refusal to succumb to demands for a forced withdrawal, asserting that the agreement validates Israel's refusal to accept any Iranian-backed interference. 'Israel and Lebanon have agreed on two adjacent areas near the Yellow Line, recommended by the IDF, where there will be a pilot program for disarming Hezbollah and transferring the territory to the control of the Lebanese army. This is a tremendous achievement, because what were they trying to do? They tried to get us out of there through all kinds of means and pressures. That, of course, will not happen,' he noted.
Military Successes Behind Diplomatic Breakthrough
The Prime Minister underscored the military successes that set the stage for this diplomatic breakthrough, claiming the destruction of approximately 90 per cent of Hezbollah's vast missile arsenal and the elimination of over 9,000 fighters since the conflict began. He cited the recent elimination of top leadership and the dismantling of subterranean tunnels and bunkers as evidence of the campaign's success.
'I want to remind you of what the situation was in Lebanon: Hezbollah had 150,000 missiles and rockets, and we eliminated about 90 percent of this vast arsenal. We astonished them with the pagers, we eliminated Nasrallah, and we eliminated the commanders of the Radwan Force. In the last two weeks alone, we eliminated over 200 terrorists, and since the beginning of the war, over 9,000 Hezbollah terrorists! We took control of the Beaufort and we are staying in the Beaufort; we took control of the Ali Taher ridge, and of Bint Jbeil—they are under our control. We are eliminating their terrorist infrastructure throughout the entire area, in the entire Yellow Zone; we are simply wiping out the terrorist infrastructure. There are bunkers there, there are tunnels there, there are terrorist villages there; we are wiping them all out. We are not done yet, we still have work to do, especially regarding the global problem of explosive drones, and in this too, we will be the first in the world to find a solution,' he said.
Economic Revitalization and Broader Vision
While acknowledging that there is still work to be done regarding technological threats like explosive drones, Netanyahu presented the agreement as the precursor to a broader restoration project for northern Israel. He pledged a financial package of 20 billion shekels to revitalize the region, drawing a parallel to the prosperity currently seen in the western Negev.
'But what is clear is one thing: There is a historic achievement here. This agreement strengthens Israel and Lebanon, and weakens Iran and Hezbollah. And G-d willing, this is a sign of things to come. We will continue to do everything necessary to restore security to the residents of the North, just as we successfully did in the South. We did it once again thanks to the heroism of the fighters and commanders, and also thanks to your steadfast resilience, residents of the North,' he said.
'We are bringing you not only security assistance, but also over 20 billion shekels to restore prosperity to the North. This is what I want to see: A quiet border between us and Lebanon, a border of peace. And in the North, I want to see security, peace, and prosperity. What happened in the South, which is currently prospering in the western Negev, will also happen in the North. This is my goal, and with your help and G-d's help, we will achieve it,' he added.
Trilateral Framework as Initial Step
The trilateral framework agreement by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon, concluded after several days of intense deliberations in Washington, represents a major breakthrough aimed at ceasing hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, though officials from both sides termed it merely an initial step towards a wider settlement.
