Herzog addresses Romanian Parliament, thanks Trump, Rubio for Israel-Lebanon deal

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the Romanian Parliament on Monday during a state visit, expressing gratitude to US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their contributions to the recently signed Israel-Lebanon deal. Herzog described the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a significant breakthrough for peace and a potential cornerstone for future stability.

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The most recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Israel and Lebanon, signed in Washington a few days ago, is a major breakthrough for peace and can serve as a cornerstone moving forward.

Herzog urged the European Union and the international community to support the agreement, emphasizing its benefits for Lebanon's stability and economy, as well as Israel's security. The framework agreement, signed in Washington, outlines a 14-point plan. Key provisions include Israel's phased withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the Lebanese Armed Forces' assumption of total sovereignty, which involves disarming Hezbollah and other militant groups. The US will serve as the monitoring body for the transfer of territory in designated zones.

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I thank President Trump and Secretary Rubio and the Administration for sponsoring this important step, and I call upon the European Union and the international community to support it, to support the stability and economy of Lebanon, and the security of Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously praised the agreement, stating it strengthens both Israel and Lebanon while weakening Iran and Hezbollah. A statement accompanying the agreement highlighted its potential to guide Lebanon out of its crisis and provide Israel with a verifiable path to removing threats on its northern border. President Herzog also addressed the war with Iran, reiterating that a primary objective of joint operations is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He commended both Trump and Netanyahu for their leadership during the conflict and affirmed Israel's commitment to peace and diplomatic solutions in the region.

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For Lebanon, this framework provides a genuine pathway out of a long crisis. For Israel, it creates a verifiable path to removing the persistent threat on its northern border.

Concluding his address, Herzog thanked the Romanian government for its steadfast support of Israel, emphasizing their shared commitment to regional resilience and a stable moral order. The president's remarks underscored the diplomatic efforts underway to foster peace and security across the region, highlighting the interconnectedness of these initiatives.

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The explicit goal of the joint operations was to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.