Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The United States, Israel and Lebanon on June 26 signed a trilateral framework agreement that Washington described as the first step towards ending decades of conflict along Israel’s northern border, restoring Lebanese sovereignty and creating a pathway for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
The agreement, signed in Washington with US mediation, establishes what Secretary of State Marco Rubio called “a framework for lasting peace and security” and creates a US-facilitated Military Coordination Group for Lebanon to oversee its implementation.
“Today is a good day in that we are happy to announce the – a framework agreement between the sovereign Government of Lebanon and of course the Government of Israel, with the mediation and support of the United States of America, that begins to put in place a framework for lasting peace and security,” Rubio said during the signing ceremony.
The framework also aims to enable Israeli forces to return to their borders. It also establishes the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L), facilitated by the United States.
Rubio said the people of Lebanon had “suffered tremendously now for decades as a result of outside interference in their affairs”. Rubio also stressed Israel’s security concerns, particularly for residents of northern Israel who have faced repeated attacks launched from Lebanese territory.
Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad described the agreement as “a first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing a permanent and final cessation of hostilities, enabling our people to go back to their land, and allowing all Lebanese to live in peace, security, and prosperity.”
Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said the agreement represented a decisive shift in regional security. Washington would immediately provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance in coordination with the UN. It also said the Department of War was prepared to reimburse the Lebanese Armed Forces with more than $ 30 million to strengthen the country’s ability to establish sovereignty across its territory.
