Middle East Crisis Israel-Hezbollah

Lebanon and Israel reach agreement after US mediation

Lebanon, Israel and the US have signed a framework agreement that will lead to peace. This is reported by AFP.

The US has acted as a mediator between Israel and Lebanon during four days of negotiations, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“A historic agreement that paves the way for a greater, broader and more lasting peace between these two countries,” writes Al Jazeera analyst Manuel Rapalo.

Marco Rubio also expresses it as a “first step” towards peace, according to AP.

According to the agreement, Israel is to withdraw first from the areas it has taken north of the Litani River, and then south of the Litani River, writes CNN. They are to be replaced by Lebanese forces, who are to disarm Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously said that he will not withdraw from the so-called buffer zone in southern Lebanon “as long as I am prime minister,” according to Haaretz.

Hezbollah leader: Israel must leave Lebanon

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem calls on Israel to leave Lebanon “unconditionally” in a televised speech, Al Jazeera reports.

He also rejects Israel’s line that their presence in Lebanon is necessary to defend themselves against Hezbollah’s rocket attacks.

“Israel is not in Lebanon because of the rockets, they are here to try to occupy and swallow the entire country.”

Israel and Hezbollah have been at odds for decades. The fighting flared up again earlier this year when the organization, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US, shelled Israel in response to attacks on Iran.