Israel and Lebanon on Friday signed a Peace Framework Agreement in Washington aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah fighters following several days of negotiations mediated by the United States.
The trilateral document was signed at the U.S. Department of State by Lebanon's Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, and Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also present during the signing ceremony.
Following the signing, Rubio said the agreement was not merely a political document but the beginning of a new effort toward lasting peace and stability in the region. He said the road ahead would not be easy but described the process as important and necessary. Rubio added that both countries had demonstrated a willingness to reduce differences through dialogue, which could serve as the foundation for a broader peace agreement in the future.
After the ceremony, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter praised Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Mouawad's negotiating skills, saying she had displayed determination and courage "like a lioness" during the talks. Mouawad said the framework represented a first significant step toward strengthening Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, permanently ending violence, and ensuring peace, security and prosperity for the country's citizens.
Officials have not yet disclosed the detailed terms of the agreement. They have also not clarified how the new framework differs from the ceasefire agreement reached on 16 April. Experts believe the agreement's provisions may be made public in the coming days, allowing for an assessment of its practical impact.
Following the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli military would maintain its presence in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah had been fully disarmed. He said Israel's priority remained the security of its citizens and that its forces would not withdraw until security risks had been fully eliminated.
Netanyahu also said the Israeli military would allow the Lebanese Armed Forces to assume security control in two "pilot zones," one south of the Litani River and the other north of it. He said the arrangement was intended to test the capabilities of the local security system and establish a basis for a future permanent security framework.
