Netanyahu on ceasefire: ‘We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Israeli public on Thursday night to explain his decision to accept the 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon announced earlier that evening by President Trump.
Bibi Netanyahu (photo: Photo: Jolanda Flubacher)
“We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,” said Netanyahu. “President Trump intended to invite the Lebanese president and me to try to advance the agreement.”
Netanyahu said that Israel has two fundamental demands: Hezbollah’s disarmament and a “sustainable peace agreement, peace through strength.”
And Netanyahu explained that the ceasefire was achieved, even though he refused to accept two demands made by Hezbollah for a ceasefire. Those demands were an Israeli from all Lebanese territory and “quiet for quiet,” that Israel cease its fire on Hezbollah first.
“I agreed to neither of these, and indeed, both of these conditions are not being met,” declared Netanyahu.
The Prime Minister also said he spoke with President Trump over the past two days, who told him that he is “determined in an extraordinary way to continue both the naval blockade and to bring about the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, whatever remains of them.”
“He is not giving up on this,” added Netanyahu. “He is confident that he can eliminate this threat once and for all, following the great things we did together.”
President Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he held “excellent conversations” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
In a second post, he said he would be inviting the leaders to the White House for “meaningful talks” between the two countries.
“These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 PM EST,” he wrote, adding that he has directed US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine to work with the two countries to achieve lasting peace.
“Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!” he said.
with AAP
