Israel's Security Cabinet Approves Lebanon Ceasefire Agreement

Foreks - Following an agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon to end a conflict that has lasted for over a year, a ceasefire between Israeli forces and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah came into effect this morning local time, according to a timeline set by U.S. President Joe Biden. Earlier, in a speech at the White House Rose Garden, Biden stated that the agreement was "designed to permanently halt hostilities." He mentioned that he had spoken with leaders from both Israel and Lebanon and that both countries accepted the U.S. proposal to "end the destructive conflict" between Israel and Hezbollah. A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office indicated that the Israeli security cabinet approved the agreement with a majority of 10 to 1 in a vote held on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to the U.S. for its involvement.

The 60-day ceasefire aims to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, with the hope that it will lay the foundation for a permanent ceasefire. Resolution 1701 was adopted in 2006 to end a 34-day war between Israel and Lebanon and had provided relative calm in the region for nearly two decades. This situation continued until the day after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 of last year, when Hezbollah attacked Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group, triggering cross-border clashes that have continued for over a year. The resolution required Israel to withdraw all its forces from southern Lebanon, allowing only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers to operate south of the Litani River.

A senior U.S. official stated on Tuesday that Israeli forces would not immediately withdraw with the implementation of the agreement, but they would need to do so within 60 days according to the terms of the agreement. During this period, Hezbollah fighters are also expected to pull back approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border.