Sa’ar tells UN envoy Israel committed to upholding Lebanon ceasefire

Several days before Israel is meant to fully withdraw from Lebanon under the ceasefire deal there, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar tells the visiting UN envoy on Lebanon that Israel is committed to upholding the agreement as long as its security is maintained.

“I emphasized that Israel is committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement, but will not compromise on its security,” Sa’ar says of his meeting with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis. “There is an opportunity for Lebanon to break free from the Iranian occupation and build a better future!”

By January 26, Israeli troops are scheduled to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon to complete the ceasefire deal reached in November, with the Lebanese Army deploying in the area alongside international peacekeepers. Under the terms of the deal, the Hezbollah terror group is required to pull its forces back north of the Litani River, and Israel has warned that any violations of the deal will be answered in kind.

Separately, Sa’ar will depart tomorrow for a diplomatic trip to Hungary that was slated for last week but was pushed off when he returned early from Europe in order to take part in the cabinet discussions and vote on the ceasefire-hostage release deal.