Tel Aviv (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel is willing to help Lebanon secure the disarmament of Hezbollah, and welcomed a major step by the Lebanese national government to disarm Hezbollah.
The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement praising the Lebanese Cabinet, led by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, for deciding to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025. It called it an opportunity for Lebanon to restore national sovereignty and support its institutions.
In what ways is Israel ready to assist Lebanon?
“Israel views this as a major step and an opportunity for Lebanon to reclaim its sovereignty and rebuild its state institutions, army, and government without interference from non-state actors,”
The PM office statement said.
Israel also expressed willingness to support Lebanon in disarming Hezbollah and work towards a safer, stable future for both countries.
The statement suggested that if Lebanese security forces take steps to seize Hezbollah’s weapons, then Israel would respond with commensurate measures, such as a response with the US to pull back its troops progressively.
“Now is the time for Israel and Lebanon to move forward in a spirit of cooperation, focusing on the shared goal of disarming Hezbollah and promoting stability and prosperity for both nations,”
The statement concluded.
How does Lebanon’s cabinet plan to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons?
Recently, the Lebanese government approved a US suggestion that the government disarm Hezbollah by year-end, with an end to Israeli military operations and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the five locations in southern Lebanon. But Hezbollah rejected this and called the government “foolish” to comply with U.S. and Israeli authority and claimed they would
“treat this decision as if it does not exist …”
Why did Hezbollah reject the government’s disarmament agreement?
Since the Israel-Hezbollah war ended in November with a US-brokered ceasefire, Hezbollah officials have said, for their part, that the group would not discuss its disarmament until Israel abandoned its control of the five hills presently in Lebanon.
Hezbollah insists that Israel must end its almost daily airstrikes, the majority of which in the recent months have killed or wounded, mainly, Hezbollah members. Israeli planes, in fact, have continued an air campaign sporadically after the ceasefire, which Hezbollah indicates has justified its refusal to disarm.
