Touting Lebanon deal, PM says it allows Israel to maintain buffer zone and bars Lebanese from returning to it

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issues a video statement touting the framework deal reached in Washington between Israel and Lebanon.

He stresses that the deal will allow Israel to remain in the buffer zone it created in south Lebanon.

“We will maintain (the buffer zone) until Hezbollah disarms and as long as there is a threat to the State of Israel,” Netanyahu says.

“This is also a major blow to Iran. Iran is trying to coax us to withdraw from southern Lebanon by force. And in essence, Israel, Lebanon and the United States are telling Iran – it is none of your business. You have no role in Lebanon. Neither you, nor Hezbollah nor any terrorist organization,” the Israeli premier says.

“We are also allowing the Lebanese army to start preparing to seize territory. We are creating two pilot zones — both recommended by the IDF.”

“One is south of the Litani River and outside the (original) security zone altogether and and the other is north of the Litani — a small area in the expanded security zone that we conquered in the last two weeks, and which the IDF says it does not need,” Netanyahu claims.

“We are maintaining the original security zone, which covers the range of (Hezbollah) anti-tank missiles. We are not allowing Hezbollah, nor the Lebanese population to enter that area. The most important thing is that Israel says: ‘Our security comes first,'” the prime minister says.

His office issues a separate statement of the framework signed, explaining that it paves the way for future agreements between Israel and Lebanon.

“The IDF’s freedom of military action will be maintained throughout the security zone to eliminate threats of any kind,” Netanyahu’s office says.