Israel Seeks Lasting Peace Deal with Lebanon: Netanyahu
Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is open to signing a “real” and lasting peace agreement with Lebanon, as he intensified his criticism of Iran and its regional proxies. He claimed that his government would continue military operations against what he called a “terrorist regime.”
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According to Al Jazeera, Israel has agreed to start official negotiations with Lebanon next week, after weeks of intense cross-border clashes and a ground operation in some parts of Lebanese territory. Netanyahu reiterated that Israel wants a permanent peace agreement with Lebanon and argued that such an agreement should provide long-term security guarantees.
Netanyahu said in a video speech that Israel is open to a peace deal with Lebanon, but that it is conditional on it being long-term and on the “shattering” of Hezbollah’s military capabilities. “Lebanon approached us. It contacted us several times last month to start direct peace talks,” he said.
“I gave my approval, but on two conditions: We want Hezbollah’s weapons to be dismantled, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations,” he added.
Netanyahu’s comments came as the first phase of face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran concluded after several hours of talks involving multiple stakeholders in Islamabad on Saturday night. The talks marked a significant development in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in West Asia.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military claimed that its forces had targeted “more than 200 Hezbollah sites” across Lebanon in the past 24 hours. In a post published on X, the military stated that the air force would continue to attack “Hezbollah infrastructure” in southern Lebanon as part of its ongoing campaign.
Amid ongoing military activities, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the ceasefire in Lebanon was part of an agreement being discussed with the United States, according to Iranian state media Press TV. The report stated that the remarks were also confirmed by the Pakistani side and that the Iranian delegation was in contact with Hezbollah regarding future decisions.
These developments coincide with the start of tripartite ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran and Pakistan in Islamabad. Al Jazeera reported that these were the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
