US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said Tuesday at the Herzliya Conference that the agreement with Lebanon is 'historic,' declaring that both Lebanon and Israel have recognized they are not at war with each other. Huckabee added that Israel's problem is with Hezbollah, not Lebanon, and expressed hope that one day travel between Jerusalem and Beirut will be possible, according to the ambassador's remarks carried by N12.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee struck an optimistic tone on the emerging diplomatic framework with Lebanon during his address Tuesday at the Herzliya Conference, describing the agreement as 'historic.' Huckabee said both nations have mutually acknowledged they are not at war — Lebanon affirmed it is not at war with Israel, and Israel recognized it is not at war with Lebanon. Instead, he framed Hezbollah as the common adversary: 'Israel has a problem with Hezbollah, not with Lebanon.' The ambassador expressed hope for normalization, envisioning a future where travel from Jerusalem to Beirut would be possible.
The remarks come as The Zioneer has tracked a surge of official Israeli statements framing the Lebanon framework agreement as a strategic blow to Iran and Hezbollah. On Friday, Ambassador Yechiel Leiter declared 'Iran and Hezbollah are out of the game' at the signing ceremony. UN Ambassador Danny Danon called it 'bad news for Hezbollah and Iran, good news for peace,' while reservist Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi described the end of Iranian hegemony as the deal's 'big news.' Huckabee's intervention carries weight as the lead US diplomat in Israel offering the administration's assessment of the deal's significance.
- StrongUS Ambassador Huckabee: Rubio clarified Iran and Hezbollah not tied to deal
- StrongIsraeli ambassador declares Iran and Hezbollah 'out of the game' at Lebanon signing
- DevelopingDanon: Lebanon deal is bad news for Hezbollah and Iran, good for peace
- StrongReservist Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Lebanon deal's big news is Iran's decline
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