Prior to the White House statements on the Lebanon ceasefire agreement, the Israeli security cabinet voted 10 to 1 in favor of the deal—the one vote against being that of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. He called the measure “a historic mistake.” Numerous local council heads in northern Israel, some of whom met with Netanyahu on Tuesday evening, have also expressed bitter opposition to the deal, arguing that Hezbollah remains relatively potent and fearing that it will now have the opportunity to rearm and gradually rebuild its offensive capabilities in southern Lebanon, The Times of Israel reported last night.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video statement before the vote, in which he said that “the duration of the ceasefire will depend on what takes place in Lebanon.” He did not encourage displaced residents of the north to return at this stage, and vowed that the multifront war that began on October 7, 2023, “will not end until we realize all its goals, including the return of the residents of the north safely home.”
Netanyahu said that “with the full understanding with the US, we are maintaining full freedom of action” against Hezbollah in Lebanon. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” Netanyahu promised. “If it tries to rebuild the terror infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it fires a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck with missiles, we will attack.”
“To every violation, we will respond with force,” Netanyahu pledged. “A good deal is one that is enforced, and we will enforce it.”
