Netanyahu Hails Lebanon Framework as a Blow to Iran and Hezbollah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference Saturday night after Israel and Lebanon reached a framework agreement the previous evening. Under the deal, Israel will begin a partial withdrawal from two pilot areas in southern Lebanon and hand them to the Lebanese army, while the IDF will remain in most of the security zone it currently controls until the threat from Hezbollah is removed.

Netanyahu called the agreement a "heavy blow" to Iran and Hezbollah and thanked Lebanon’s government, saying it had shown "courage." He said the framework was the product of direct Israeli-Lebanese talks mediated by the United States, and argued it gives Israel time to preserve its security buffer until there is no threat from Lebanon. "Israel remains in the yellow zone that protects us," he said, adding that efforts to force Israel out had failed.

He also said he plans to send a delegation to Washington to present Israel’s "interests" on Iran’s nuclear issue, amid US-Iran negotiations. On domestic politics, Netanyahu said he wants to form a "broad national government" and reject what he described as political boycotts. He said such a coalition would promote security, economic independence, reduced reliance on foreign arms production, and agreements on military conscription and judicial issues.

Netanyahu accused his rivals of wanting Israel to do nothing militarily, listing past operations he said they would have prevented, and dismissed criticism from Gadi Eisenkot. In response, Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of division, deception and evading responsibility, and said Israel needs a “Zionist and national majority” government. Separately, the agreement has angered Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem called it a "humiliation" and said it gave Israel legitimacy to annex occupied land. Israeli officials said Hezbollah may respond within days, and the army is preparing for possible escalation in the north.