The “framework agreement” between Israel and Lebanon leaves the Israeli exit from the south of the country in the air

The final text of the framework agreement signed this past Friday by Lebanon and Israel in no way implies the Israeli withdrawal from the areas it has invaded in the south of the country, a “gradual” exit always conditioned on the disarmament of the Hezbollah militias, effective only in two “pilot zones” that, according to official Israeli sources, are located beyond the original limits of what Israel calls the “buffer zone” that was established in April.

The agreement, published by the US State Department, speaks of a “reciprocal and gradual process” by which the Lebanese Army will “reestablish effective sovereignty” over its entire territory, however, “pending the verified disarmament” of Hezbollah, which has already rejected this agreement and warned for the umpteenth time that it will not begin a disarmament process based on these conversations between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

The text mentions the existence of “pilot zones” whose security will be assumed, again “gradually” by the Lebanese Army if Israel perceives that the necessary security guarantees exist. At the moment, both parties have agreed on two “initial zones” that Israel, according to official sources to the ‘Times of Israel’, would leave immediately. However, they belong to the southern part of the country that Israel has most recently occupied and do not include strategic positions such as the Crusader fortress of Beaufort, under Israeli control since May 31.

Future “pilot zones” will be established “by mutual agreement” and the Lebanese population will only be able to return “once the successful disarmament and dismantling of the infrastructure” of Hezbollah has been confirmed and “reconstruction efforts with international support” have been concluded.

Beirut is committed to restoring the state monopoly on the use of force through not only the disarmament of Hezbollah, but the exclusion of the party-militia from “any military or security role, and also promises to implement a “rigorous, results-based program to strengthen the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces to exercise full military and security control within Lebanon.” Israel, for its part, declares in writing that it has “no territorial ambitions” in Lebanon and recognizes the “exercise of sovereignty” of the Lebanese Government over the entire territory, although it reserves the “right of self-defense” to respond to any new attack by Hezbollah.

Both governments commit to establishing a military coordination group, with the support and participation of the United States, to ensure the general implementation of the framework agreement.

Separately and simultaneously, the United States will mobilize its international partners to actively support the Government of Lebanon in rebuilding the country, repairing infrastructure, reviving the economy, and creating opportunities for prosperity, with “significant humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Lebanon, economic recovery programs, and investment initiatives, so that the country can recover from years of conflict and provide a better future for all its citizens.”

Finally, and in line with their “common goals of establishing stable and peaceful relations,” Israel and Lebanon commit to taking “measures in good faith that demonstrate positive intent, including the cessation of all hostile or adverse actions in international political or legal forums, and commit to working toward the search and return of human remains and the release of detainees.”