Lebanon-Israel framework agreement faces rejection from Hezbollah

Hezbollah has rejected a framework agreement reached between the Lebanese government and Israel, which stipulates that the completion of an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon is contingent upon the disarmament of Hezbollah and the cessation of all forms of illegal armed presence. The agreement, mirroring a common practice by the U.S. and Israel in recent conflicts, consists of 14 points, drawing a mix of support, reservations, and outright rejection.

The first point, which acknowledges the right of both Israel and Lebanon to exist in peace as sovereign neighboring states and expresses a shared desire to end the conflict definitively, has particularly shocked a significant segment in Lebanon. This group has long advocated for non-recognition of Israel. The agreement calls for resolving all outstanding issues through direct bilateral negotiations, mediated and supported by the United States.

Points two, three, four, and six establish a reciprocal and sequential equation. This involves the Lebanese army regaining effective sovereignty over all Lebanese territories and assuming security responsibility in designated zones. This is conditional on the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and the dismantling of their associated infrastructure, which would then enable the gradual redeployment of the Israeli army out of Lebanese territory. Notably, Israel used the term "redeployment" rather than "withdrawal" throughout the agreement.

Lebanon committed to regaining full sovereignty over its territory, rebuilding the state's monopoly on the use of force, and achieving the complete and documented disarmament of all non-state armed groups, ensuring they possess no military or security roles or armed capabilities. While the seventh point addresses the right of both governments to self-defense, this is primarily a justification Israel uses for its actions in Palestine, Lebanon, and elsewhere. The agreement does not explicitly mandate normalization but opens the door through articles 13 and 14, which commit both nations to good-faith measures, including halting hostile acts in international forums and releasing detainees. Both governments praised the U.S. role in brokering the deal.