The Politics and Security Cabinet this evening approved the US proposal for a ceasefire in Lebanon, with a majority of 10 ministers against one opponent. This was announced by the Prime Minister’s office Benjamin Netanyahu. “Israel appreciates the contribution of the United States in this process and maintains the right to act against any threat to its security,” the statement said.
«Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now spoke with US President Joe Biden and thanked him for the US involvement in securing the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and for the understanding that Israel will maintain freedom of action in its territories”, reports a note from the Prime Minister’s Office.
“I spoke with the prime minister of Israel and that of Lebanon and I can announce the truce,” he said Joe Biden at the White House. «Hezbollah or its remnants will no longer be allowed to threaten Israel’s security. There will be no American troops in southern Lebanon. An urgent truce is also needed in Gaza, the civilian population is going through hell”, Biden said again at the White House, underlining that “the only way to a ceasefire is the release of the hostages” in the hands of Hamas”.
In the coming days the United States «will launch a new initiative together with Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and other countries to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages held by Hamas” Biden announced again. Today’s truce, the president said, “brings us closer to realizing a permanent agenda that I have pushed for the region throughout my presidency, a vision for the future of the Middle East.”
Furthermore, Biden, together with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in a joint statement, says Washington and Paris will ensure that the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon is “implemented in its entirety.”
“The United States and France will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure that this agreement is implemented in its entirety and enforced,” the two heads of state underlined. “They remain committed to ensuring that this conflict does not lead to a new cycle of violence,” they added.