The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahuannounced this Tuesday that the security cabinet has accepted the proposed ceasefire agreement in Lebanon of 60 days, but that Israel will maintain “freedom of action” if Hezbollah violates the commitment.
“The duration of the ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon and we will maintain total freedom of movement”said the prime minister in an appearance.
The security cabinet met for several hours discussing the terms of the agreement and Netanyahu announced that he voted in favor of the ceasefire commitment in Lebanon proposed by the US, in addition to nine other ministers, according to the Israeli president’s office.
There was only one vote against which everything indicates could be from the radical Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvirwhich called the security cabinet’s decision to accept this truce minutes after it became public a “historical error.”
The proposal includes three stages: a truce followed by the withdrawal of the forces of the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah to the north of the Litani River; a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon within 60 days and, finally, negotiations between Israel and Lebanon on the demarcation of their border, which is currently a boundary set by the UN after the 2006 war .
«In full understanding with the United States, we maintain full freedom of military action. If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If you try to renew terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. “If he launches a rocket, if he digs a tunnel, if he brings a truck with missiles, we will attack.”Netanyahu said.
The Israeli leader conveyed this same message to the American president, Joe Bidenin a telephone conversation that took place hours later in which he also thanked him for “his involvement in obtaining this agreement.”
Military “freedom of action” within Lebanon was one of the most controversial elements of the agreement, which both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah were flatly opposed to, but Israel has shown itself willing to accept a letter of commitment from Washington on the matter. .
Regarding the voices critical of the agreement, which include his far-right partners or the mayors of the northern communities, who fear that security guarantees are not yet given so that evacuated residents can return to their homes, the prime minister promised that troops will enter Lebanon again if necessary.
Netanyahu recalled that a year ago he already signed a truce with Hamas in the Gaza Strip to free some hostages, but had no qualms about “attacking again and renewing the war.”
“Some say that Hezbollah will remain silent for a year or two, get stronger, and then attack us. But Hezbollah will not only violate the ceasefire if it shoots at us, it will also do so when it tries to arm itself to attack us in the future. For every violation of yours, we will respond firmly,” he warned.
The prime minister indicated that this is “the right time” for a ceasefire in Lebanon for three reasons: focusing on the Iranian threat, the complete renewal of forces and isolating Hamas.
«From the second day of the war, Hamas relied on Hezbollah to fight alongside it. And when Hezbollah is out of the picture, Hamas is left alone in the campaign. Our pressure on him will increase and this will contribute to the sacred mission of freeing our hostages.”Netanyahu said of Gaza.
Regarding the war in Lebanon, in which more than 3,500 Lebanese have died, Netanyahu claimed to have achieved the objectives, since he has not only beheaded the organization – murdering its entire leadership including leader Hasan Nasrallah – but has also made it retreat ” thousands of years” after the destruction of most of its weapons arsenal and underground infrastructure.
«A few years ago this would have seemed like science fiction, but it is not. “We achieved it,” emphasized the president, who said he had strategically chosen the moment to start the war offensive in the north – parallel to the war in Gaza – as well as when to respond to Iran’s attack with 181 missiles in October. EFE (I)
#Israel #agrees #60day #ceasefire #Hezbollah
