Hezbollah leader rejects agreement between Lebanon and Israel

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said this Saturday (27) that the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon signed in Washington is "null", a "humiliation" and a renunciation of sovereignty, and should be replaced by the memorandum between Iran and the USA.

Qassem declared that any attempt to link Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the group's disarmament crossed "red lines".

Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement in Washington on Friday (26), after several days of negotiations to ensure an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants - a group supported by Iran -, although both sides presented the agreement as an initial step.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the agreement allows Israeli forces to continue occupying southern Lebanon if Hezbollah does not disarm.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the agreement should allow the Lebanese to return to "fully liberated" lands and rebuilt homes, with "no partner" in their sovereignty.

Statements by officials
During the signing ceremony, Lebanon's ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, stated that the agreement represents the "first step on the path to restoring Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

In a recorded video address released on Friday night (26), Netanyahu described the movement of Israeli troops as leaving positions that the IDF "no longer needs" in Lebanon.

Today is "the beginning of the beginning," said United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the signing ceremony. "There is still a lot of work ahead. In no way do we underestimate the difficulty of the task ahead. But we understand its importance and how vital it is."

The Israeli ambassador to the US stated that Israel will be able to withdraw from Lebanon when it has completely neutralized "Lebanon terrorism".

Understand what Hezbollah is and how the Lebanese group came about

Source: CNN