In a recording released before Shabbat, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel will remain in the southern Lebanon security zone until Hezbollah disarms, and that two pilot areas chosen by the IDF will see an Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese army deployment. The recording frames the same trilateral framework he announced Friday evening.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a recording released before the start of Shabbat, reiterated that Israel will remain in the southern Lebanon security zone until Hezbollah disarms, and confirmed that two pilot areas — selected on the IDF's recommendation — will see an Israeli withdrawal and a handover to the Lebanese army. The recording, which came hours after his initial Friday evening announcement of the trilateral framework (reported by The Zioneer at 21:41 Jerusalem), appeared intended to reinforce the terms domestically as Shabbat began, emphasizing that the withdrawal from the pilot zones is conditioned on military recommendation rather than a fixed timetable.
The recording is the latest in a rapid sequence of statements from Netanyahu and Israeli officials on Friday evening. At 20:00 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported a senior official saying Israel would keep the security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed, with full IDF freedom of action. Within the same hour, Netanyahu personally confirmed the policy in several versions of his announcement, each adding detail: the framework excludes Iran, establishes two pilot areas for the Lebanese army (one south of the Litani, one north of it), and bars Iran from any role. The recording released before Shabbat is the first time Netanyahu has presented the pilot-area selection as being explicitly based on an IDF recommendation. Hezbollah has not formally responded as of Friday night.
As The Zioneer reported earlier on Friday, the framework was reached in Washington and has been described by Netanyahu as a 'great achievement' and a blow to Iran. The agreement prevents Iran from imposing a unilateral Israeli withdrawal, according to a senior official. The broader context includes recent IDF operations in southern Lebanon: over the past week, Netanyahu said the IDF struck 300 Hezbollah targets in two days and killed about 100 operatives, as The Zioneer reported on Saturday, June 20. A joint statement from Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz, and the IDF Chief of Staff on Tuesday, June 23, reaffirmed the IDF would maintain the security zone and act decisively.
The status of the broader framework — including how the Lebanese army's deployment will be verified and whether Hezbollah will comply with disarmament — remains unclear. Hezbollah has not formally responded to the recording as of Friday night.
8 developments
- StrongNetanyahu, defense chiefs reaffirm IDF will maintain security zone in southern Lebanon
- StrongNetanyahu: IDF to stay in southern Lebanon as long as needed; 300 Hezbollah targets struck in two days
- DevelopingNetanyahu declares Israel will hold security zones in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon as long as needed
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Lebanese civilians will not be allowed back into IDF-held security zone
Source and signal
- Internal intake