Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference Saturday night following the framework agreement reached Friday with the Lebanese government.
"Citizens of Israel, yesterday, before the start of Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath -ed.), we achieved a historic accomplishment for the State of Israel," Netanyahu said. "Following direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the United States, we reached a framework of understandings that allows us to move toward ending the conflict and, with G-d's help, eventually reaching a peace agreement between the two countries."
"As part of these understandings, the United States and Lebanon have recognized Israel's right to maintain a security zone until there is no longer any threat to Israel from Lebanon."
Netanyahu stressed, "I want you to know: This is a major blow to Iran and Hezbollah, which tried to force us to withdraw from southern Lebanon. You heard those demands repeatedly, as well as their disappointment and that of Hezbollah. I strongly opposed the idea that they could force us to withdraw. Iran has no standing here. It has no involvement and no role - not Iran, nor Hezbollah, nor any other terrorist organization."
Under the framework agreement, both countries recognize each other's sovereignty and commit to working toward resolving the conflict and achieving full peace. Israel explicitly states that it has no territorial claims in Lebanon and that once the threat posed by Hezbollah has been eliminated "throughout Lebanon," there will no longer be a need for an IDF presence in the country.
Israel also committed to a gradual withdrawal from Lebanese territory, beginning with two pilot areas that will be transferred to the control of the Lebanese Armed Forces, subject to the removal of Hezbollah and its terrorist infrastructure from those areas.
Netanyahu presented a map of the "Yellow Line" during the press conference, highlighting the two pilot areas from which the IDF will withdraw. According to him, both areas are located largely outside the Yellow Line, with only one including a limited section within it.
"Israel remains in the Yellow Zone that protects us, and this is a tremendous achievement because they tried to remove us from there through all kinds of pressure and means. That, of course, did not happen," he said.
Asked about the upcoming elections, Netanyahu said his goal is to establish a broad national unity government.
"I believe there are forces within our society that want to create division among the people," he said. "They want to deepen misunderstandings and disagreements, and I think that is a terrible mistake. We must make every effort to resolve our internal disputes through consensus, because we have enemies outside. I say this clearly: There will not be a civil war here."
"To achieve that, I intend to form a broad national government - not a narrow one, and not a left-wing government that will be dependent on Arab parties. Rather, a broad national government, because I think that is the only way that we can reach agreements among ourselves.
"What does that mean? It means an end to political boycotts. I am not boycotting anyone. Everyone is welcome to join, they simply need to agree on our fundamental principles."