Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed a possible negotiating track with Lebanon, pointing to a shift in the balance of power and the possibility of pushing toward a peace agreement, alongside the continuation of security measures in the south and positions linked to the Hezbollah and Iran files.
Key points from remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
• “President Trump intends to invite me together with the Lebanese president to push toward the conclusion of a peace agreement
• Reaching peace with Lebanon is possible because we have changed the balance of power
• We have received calls from Lebanon over the past month to hold direct negotiations, something that has never happened before
• I responded to Lebanon’s calls and agreed to a temporary ceasefire for 10 days to move the peace talks forward
We have two demands: the disarmament of Hezbollah and the conclusion of a lasting peace agreement from a position of strength
• We rejected two Hezbollah conditions: our withdrawal to the international border and a ceasefire based on calm in exchange for calm
• We will remain in a security belt in southern Lebanon, reinforced by forces from the sea up to the Syrian border
• The security belt extends to a depth of 10 kilometers, keeps the threat of an incursion into our territory away, and prevents rockets from being launched at our towns
• President Trump confirmed to me his determination to maintain the naval blockade on Iran and dismantle its nuclear capabilities
• We must address the missiles in Hezbollah’s possession as part of progress toward a peace agreement
• We are facing two tracks that could change Israel’s security and political situation for years to come”
