Netanyahu Says Lebanon Deal Keeps Israel in Security Zone, Deals Blow to Iran

Jerusalem, 26 June, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement tonight after four days of negotiations in Washington.

Announcing the agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a major achievement for the State of Israel.

The most important thing, said the PM, is that Israel is remaining in the security zone in southern Lebanon. This is what he described as a major achievement, and he reiterated that Israel intends to stay there as long as Hezbollah is not disarmed and as long as a major danger poses a threat to the State of Israel.

PM Netanyahu called the deal “a severe blow to Iran”, which, as he said, is trying to force a withdrawal from southern Lebanon upon Israel, and “essentially Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are telling them: This is none of your business. You have no role in southern Lebanon—neither you, nor Hezbollah, nor any other terrorist organization”.

Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that Israel is allowing the Lebanese army to begin organizing to take control of territory. We are establishing two pilot zones, he said, both of which are based on the IDF’s recommendation.

He added that one is completely outside the security zone south of the Litani River, and the second is north of the Litani. He stressed Israel maintains the original security zone out of anti-tank missile range and will not allow Hezbollah or the civilian population to enter.

“And the most important”, the PM concluded, “is that Israel declares: Our security comes before everything else.”
Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman issued a statement welcoming “the very meeting and signing by the official representatives of Israel and Lebanon”. However, he added, “as long as Hezbollah exists and grows stronger every day, the next confrontation is only a matter of time, despite the agreement”.

Avigdor Lieberman underlined that the shared interest of both countries dictates full sovereignty of the Lebanese government over all of Lebanon’s territory, and this requires a clear, decisive outcome—the elimination of Hezbollah.
The framework follows intensive U.S. involvement, including direct pressure by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the White House on both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

The central test will be implementation — and, above all, whether Lebanon can confront Hezbollah’s attempt to dictate the terms on the ground. The terrorist organization’s leader Naim Qassem said Friday that Israel must withdraw from all Lebanese territory “unconditionally” and rejected any normalization with Israel.