Lebanon’s deal with Israel requires Hezbollah to disarm. That might be difficult
BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah’s leader criticized an attack on Saturday framework agreement Israel and Lebanon signed a day earlier to end months of conflict between the militant group and Israel, raising concerns about its effectiveness.
Lebanon and Israel signed the agreement in Washington on Friday Hezbollah. The agreement ties Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon to the disarmament of the Iran-backed militant group, which Hezbollah denies.
Several previous ceasefire agreements negotiated by Lebanon with Israel since the outbreak of the last Israel-Hezbollah war were never implemented on the ground.
Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said on Saturday that his group would continue fighting until Israel was forced to leave Lebanon. Supporters of the group protested in the streets of Beirut after the agreement was announced.
Despite the agreement, Lebanon’s state news agency reported that Israel carried out a drone strike near the southern city. Nabataea.
It was also reported that the Israeli army released three Lebanese and three Syrian workers taken near the southern village of Ayn Arab on Friday.
The agreement demands that Israel withdraw only if Hezbollah is disarmed
Details of the agreement announced by the US State Department on Saturday state that Lebanon and Israel aim to eventually end the state of war between them, which began with the establishment of Israel in 1948.
The agreement states that Israel will withdraw from Lebanon on the condition that Hezbollah is disarmed.
It calls for Israel to withdraw from two small areas, initially called pilot zones. It hasn’t been said where these two starting sites will be. The Lebanese army will gradually assume full security responsibility for these areas. The agreement states that the two countries will agree on future pilot areas for Israel’s future withdrawal.
The agreement has a security annex that includes details on the deployment of the Lebanese army and the redeployment of Israeli troops. The security annex was not disclosed to the public.
As part of the agreement, Israel emphasizes that the disarmament of Hezbollah throughout Lebanon and additional security measures to be agreed upon between the two countries will eliminate any need for military action or presence of the Israeli army in Lebanon in the future.
Talks between Israel and Lebanon were different interim agreement It was signed by the leaders of the United States and Iran earlier this month to end the conflict in the Islamic Republic.
Hezbollah leader rejects deal
Kassem said on Saturday that there was no agreement for Hezbollah.
He called the agreement a “humiliation,” adding that linking Israel’s withdrawal to Hezbollah’s disarmament as a “very dangerous suggestion.”
The agreement led Hassan Fadlallah, one of the group’s officials, to warn that it could result in civil war, as Hezbollah would not give up its weapons and would resist any measures taken by the Lebanese army.
Lebanon’s attorney general, Judge Ahmed Rami al-Hajj, told the heads of the country’s security agencies on Saturday to take measures to prevent riots.
Some Israelis and Lebanese are skeptical that the deal will last
The agreement states that both Lebanon and Israel recognize that restoring security in southern Lebanon through the deployment of the Lebanese army, the safe return of the civilian population, and the security of Israel’s northern communities are vital to long-term stability and peace.
“Personally, I don’t think this will be permanent because the Lebanese army would have no chance against Hezbollah,” Israeli citizen Ronit Belson said while visiting the town of Metula on the Lebanese border.
People were divided into two when Rabie Sammour, a resident of the southern city of Sidon in Lebanon, said, “People just want to rest forever. I support the Lebanese authorities in the decision taken.”
Another Sidon resident, Khalid Ghannoum, said that the agreement “legitimates the Israeli occupation.”
In an apparent reference to Iran, which has sent billions of dollars in cash to Hezbollah over the past four decades, the agreement states that Lebanon and the United States undertake to prevent funds from flowing to any organization, entity or individual linked to non-state armed groups and to take available legal measures to prohibit the activities of any such organization, organization or individual.
The agreement states that the Lebanese government is clearly committed to preventing reconstruction funds from flowing to non-state armed groups and affiliated organizations.
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Mor reported from Metula, Israel. Associated Press reporter Ibrahim Hazboun contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
