Israel signals gradual withdrawal from Lebanon if Hezbollah disarms

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday hinted at a gradual withdrawal of the remaining Israeli troops from southern Lebanon if the country’s military takes steps to disarm the Hezbollah militia.

“This will happen, if the Lebanese Armed Forces, LAF, take the necessary steps to implement the disarmament of Hezbollah.

“Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of Israel Defense Forces presence in coordination with the U.S.-led security mechanism,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

A ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Hezbollah since the end of November, but both sides have accused each other of violations.

Israel still has troops stationed at five posts in southern Lebanon, and the Israeli military continues to carry out attacks in the country on an almost daily basis, saying it is targeting Hezbollah.

People are repeatedly killed in the Israeli attacks.

Also read: Israeli ex-officials demand immediate Gaza ceasefire

The Lebanese government is under pressure to implement the ceasefire agreement, which includes the disarmament of Hezbollah.

At the beginning of August, the government in Beirut accepted a US plan that provides for the complete disarmament of the militia by the end of the year.

But the undertaking is set to be extremely difficult and politically risky.

Hezbollah calls for protests

Iran-backed Hezbollah said it will only agree to disarm if Israel halts its attacks in Lebanon and withdraws its remaining troops from the south of the country.

The Shiite militia, along with its ally, the Amal Movement, has called for a protest in Beirut on Wednesday against the Lebanese government’s decision to monopolize all weapons.

In a joint statement, both groups reaffirmed their rights to armed resistance and warned against “submission and capitulation.”

The announcement comes after a visit to Israel by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who has been attempting to solidify the ceasefire and to push Lebanon to move ahead with disarmament of Hezbollah.

During a visit to Lebanon last week, Barrack said the “Lebanese government has done their part” and “now what we need is for Israel to comply with that equal handshake.”

However, the Lebanese government must move cautiously to avoid an internal explosion of unrest. Naim Kassem, Hezbollah’s secretary-general, has vowed to fight efforts to disarm the group by force, sowing fears of civil conflict in the country.

Hezbollah’s leadership has vowed not to disarm, saying the national government’s decision to remove the Iran-backed group’s weapons by the end of the year serves Israel’s interests.

Israel has accused Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its military capabilities, and its military has said the five locations in Lebanon provide vantage points or are located across from communities in northern Israel, where about 60,000 Israelis were displaced during the war.

Since the war ended, Hezbollah has withdrawn most of its fighters and weapons from the area along the border with Israel south of the Litani river.

The ceasefire agreement it vague how Hezbollah’s weapons and military facilities north of the Litani river should be treated, saying Lebanese authorities should dismantle unauthorized facilities starting with the area south of the river.

Hezbollah maintains that the deal only covers the area south of the Litani, while Israel and the U.S. say it mandates disarmament of the group throughout Lebanon.

NAN