Biden announces a 60-day ceasefire agreement in Lebanon that aims to be permanent
US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, stressing that the 60-day truce was intended to be permanent and warning that what remains of Hezbollah… won’t be allowed to threaten Israel’s security again.
“The fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end… This truce is intended to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” Biden said in a speech at the White House.
Biden delivered his speech shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the Israeli security cabinet’s approval of the agreement.
The US President stressed that “what remains of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations won’t be allowed – I emphasize – won’t be allowed to threaten Israel’s security again”.
“Over the next 60 days, the Lebanese army and government security forces will deploy and take control of their territory again,” he continued.
Biden stressed in his speech that under the agreement, “Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure won’t be allowed to rebuild in southern Lebanon”.
He added that in return, “over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces,” noting that in this way, “civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities and begin rebuilding their homes, schools, farms, businesses and property”.
“Let me be clear: If Hezbollah or anyone else violates the agreement and poses a direct threat to Israel, Israel reserves the right to self-defense in accordance with international law, just as any country would when faced with a terrorist organization that seeks its destruction,” the US president continued.
Describing the agreement as “good news,” Biden thanked his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, for his participation in the efforts.
The US President stressed that his country “has pledged, with the full support of France and our other allies, to work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure the full implementation of these arrangements – that is, the full implementation of the agreement”.
Biden, who will hand over the presidency to Donald Trump on January 20, said the truce agreement heralds a “new beginning” for Lebanon.
“In the coming days, the United States will make additional efforts with Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
With the release of the hostages, the end of the war and Hamas out of power, this will become possible,” he continued.
The US President stressed that the people of Gaza “also deserve an end to the conflict and displacement… They have lived in hell”.
Biden stressed that Washington is ready to achieve a series of historic agreements with Saudi Arabia, including a security charter, a project to establish a Palestinian state, and normalizing relations with Israel.
The US president said that all of these projects will require Israel to make bold choices to transform its strategic advances against Iran and its allies into a coherent strategy for long-term security.
