Netanyahu says Israel will not leave the land it occupies in Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country will not leave the territory it occupies in southern Lebanon. According to Al Jazeera, the statement came as regional consequences of the US-Iran agreement are being debated. The Lebanese presidency reiterated that a lasting solution cannot be reached without a withdrawal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that his country will not withdraw from the territory it occupies in southern Lebanon. In remarks reported by Al Jazeera, Netanyahu argued that the current military positions are necessary for Israel's security.
The statement comes as regional balances are being reassessed following the US-Iran agreement announced last week. The Lebanese president has reiterated that an Israeli withdrawal is a precondition for setting borders and securing sovereignty. Hezbollah said it would maintain its military presence as long as no withdrawal takes place.
The United Nations called for diplomacy, urging that the ceasefire mechanism under Security Council Resolution 1701 be preserved. The Israeli cabinet will continue to discuss the future of the military positions in the area in the near term.
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