Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday hailed the US-brokered agreement with Lebanon, calling it a historic achievement that dealt a blow to arch-foes Iran and Hezbollah. The deal was signed at the State Department in Washington, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio looking on as State Department Counselor Daniel Holler, Israel's Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon's Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh signed the framework agreement.
Netanyahu Calls Deal a Historic Blow to Iran and Hezbollah
“Yesterday ... we achieved a historic deal for the state of Israel after direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon,” Netanyahu said in a televised briefing on June 27, 2026. “This is a blow to Iran and Hezbollah.” The agreement, mediated by the United States, marks a significant diplomatic milestone between the two neighboring countries, which have been technically at war for decades.
Far-Right Minister Ben Gvir Denounces Agreement
Meanwhile, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir denounced the agreement, saying the Lebanese government could not be trusted to disarm Hezbollah. “The agreement with Lebanon is a big mistake... Indeed, we are staying in most of the territory for now, but the state of Lebanon will not disarm Hezbollah,” he said on his Telegram channel. “Members of the Lebanese government are Hezbollah ministers, and Lebanon cannot be trusted to take Hezbollah’s weapons ... Only IDF soldiers will destroy Hezbollah, no other party will do it for us.”
Divergent Views Within Israeli Government
The starkly different reactions from Netanyahu and Ben Gvir highlight deep divisions within the Israeli government over the approach to Lebanon and Hezbollah. While Netanyahu frames the deal as a strategic victory that isolates Iran, Ben Gvir argues it is a dangerous concession that leaves Israel vulnerable. The agreement comes amid ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, with Hezbollah maintaining a significant military presence despite UN resolutions calling for its disarmament.
