The deal aims to secure a 60-day pause in hostilities in Lebanon, but US President Joe Biden said the deal was designed “to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
ADVERTISEMENT
US President Joe Biden described the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah as “good news” during a speech in the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday. He said the pause, which came into effect at 4 a.m. local time (2 a.m. GMT) on Wednesday, is designed “to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
On Tuesday, Israel’s security cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon by 10 votes to 1, shortly after the recommendation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr. Biden said that in the next 60 days, the Lebanese army and state security forces will deploy and take control of their own territory.
“Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure in South Lebanon will not be allowed to be rebuilt. Over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces. And civilians, civilians on both sides will soon be able to return safely in their communities.
The United States has always supported Israel and Mr. Biden reaffirmed that position, saying that if “Hezbollah or anyone else breaks the agreement and poses a direct threat to Israel, Israel retains the right to self-defense.”
The statement mirrors that of Mr. Netanyahu following his recommendation to the council of ministers, in which he warned that “the duration of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon.”
The Israeli Prime Minister added that in agreement with the United States, Israel retains complete freedom of military action. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to renew the terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack.”
Macron: agreement marks a “new page” for Lebanon
Mr. Biden thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his partnership in reaching the agreement, and said the United States would work with France and other countries to provide the assistance needed for its successful implementation. of the agreement.
In a video message, Macron welcomed the ceasefire agreement and said it marked a “new page” for Lebanon.
“It is important that this ceasefire is respected, that it lasts in order to restore the security of the Lebanese, the security of the Israelis, to allow the return of displaced people from both countries to their homes and to allow the reestablishment of the sovereignty of Lebanon.
Mr. Macron stressed that the restoration of Lebanon’s sovereignty requires the election of a new president “capable of bringing together the Lebanese people through the formation of a strong and representative government and the adoption of the reforms necessary for recovery. economic and financial of the country.
Other world leaders also showed support for the Social Network X deal.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the agreement and thanked the United States and France for their efforts. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the decision was “correct and important” and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the announcement “very encouraging news.”
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the deal, saying “Netanyahu does not know how to bring security to Israel”, and stressed the urgency of reaching a deal on the hostages.
President Biden’s announcement came moments before an Israeli airstrike rocked the Lebanese capital, Beirut. In the hours before the cabinet meeting, Israel issued a record number of evacuation warnings, and local authorities say strikes across Lebanon left at least 24 dead on Tuesday.
ADVERTISEMENTIsrael had previously indicated that it would continue its attacks until the ceasefire agreement comes into effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
Hezbollah also fired rockets on Tuesday, triggering air alert sirens in northern Israel.
The agreement does not address the question of the war in Gaza
The pause in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah does not include Israel’s war in Gaza, but Joe Biden expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement would serve as a catalyst to also reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Mr. Biden said the United States would work with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Israel “in the days ahead” to reach an agreement between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
ADVERTISEMENT“Just like the Lebanese people, the people of Gaza deserve a future of security and prosperity. They, too, deserve an end to the fighting and population displacement,” he said.
According to Biden, the United States “remains ready to reach a series of historic agreements with Saudi Arabia, including a security pact and economic guarantees, as well as a credible path to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the complete normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
The American president is convinced that the only path to an agreement is through the release of the hostages. Last week, the United States vetoed a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying the release of the hostages was not a condition. It was the fourth time this year that Joe Biden’s administration vetoed a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office in January, has already said he will bring peace to the Middle East, but has not specified how.
ADVERTISEMENT
