Today, President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that a ceasefire agreement has been reached in Lebanon. The agreement is set to take effect at 4 a.m. Israel time.
Speaking from the Rose Garden this afternoon, Biden accused Hezbollah and other Iran-backed terror groups of launching this 416-day war against Israel the day after the Hamas massacre. He also outlined America’s steadfast commitment throughout this war to stand by our ally.
“Over the past year, including in the days immediately following October 7, I directed the U.S. military to flow assets and capabilities into the region – including aircraft carriers, fighter squadrons, and a sophisticated air defense battery – to defend Israel and deter our common enemy in critical moments,” Biden said. Watch his full speech below.
Under the agreement announced today, the Israeli military will withdraw from southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will deploy in areas near the border, and Hezbollah will move north of the Litani River. There will be an initial 60-day implementation period.
In addition, the United States will help monitor compliance by Hezbollah and the Lebanese Armed Forces. President Biden added that “Israel retains the right to self-defense” should Hezbollah violate the deal.
“What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed, I emphasize, will not be allowed, to threaten the security of Israel ever again," the president added.
We appreciate the efforts of the Biden Administration to work closely together with Israel to forge this agreement. Read AIPAC’s full statement here.
Prime Minister Netanyahu: "We are changing the face of the Middle East"
In a speech announcing the deal, Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the IDF’s efforts to dismantle Hezbollah's capabilities and eliminate its leaders in Lebanon.
“We eliminated Nasrallah…We have taken out the organization's top leadership, we have destroyed most of their rockets and missiles, we have killed thousands of terrorists and we demolished their underground terror infrastructure abutting our border, infrastructure they had been building for years,” Netanyahu said.
"These achievements are a source of awe and admiration across the globe, and they are projecting Israel's might throughout the Middle East."
The prime minister also lauded Israel's efforts to degrade Iran's defenses, and focused on the need to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.
"We destroyed major parts of Iran's air defense system and missile-manufacturing capabilities, and we demolished a significant component of their nuclear program," he said.
"I am determined to do anything needed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. That threat has always been my top priority and is even more so today, when you hear Iran's leaders state over and over again their intention to obtain nuclear weapons. For me, removing that threat is the most important mission to ensure the existence and future of the State of Israel."
Our work together helped Israel achieve remarkable results.
The bipartisan support for a strong U.S.-Israel alliance that we’ve worked to build over decades has helped ensure the Jewish state has the resources and support needed to destroy Hezbollah’s capabilities.
A strong U.S.-Israel relationship ensured Israel had the offensive and defensive weapons it needed to protect its families from this dangerous threat.
Israel faces many more difficult days ahead, and American support for our ally will be essential.
As the ceasefire takes effect at 4 a.m. local time, we must ensure it is fully implemented, that Hezbollah is never able to rearm or reestablish itself south of the Litani River, and that Israel has the resources and support to take action should there be violations.
Tonight, as Israel continues the fight to free the hostages and drive Hamas from power in Gaza, Iran is rapidly accelerating its nuclear program and arming and funding terror groups across the Middle East. Together, we must ensure America continues to stand with Israel diplomatically, including by imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court for its outrageous arrest warrants.
Our work together will be even more vital in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you for your enduring commitment to our work together and for ensuring America stands with Israel.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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