Israeli Ambassador Says Israel Will Not Withdraw From Southern Lebanon

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said in an interview with NPR that Israel does not know the details of the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran. He said Israel welcomes President Donald Trump’s determination to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but is less pleased that Lebanon was included in the deal. “We think that is not helpful and not necessary,” he said.

Leiter was responding to an Iranian claim that Israel is obligated to withdraw from Lebanon. He rejected that assertion outright, saying, “Absolutely not.” According to Leiter, the administration made clear that the agreement has nothing to do with Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

“We are not going to withdraw from southern Lebanon,” he said, adding that “the crazy people from Tehran have no business sticking their nose in.” The remarks were delivered as Israel voiced skepticism about the new U.S.-Iran understanding and stressed that any future Israeli military posture in southern Lebanon is not tied to that agreement.