Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement after US-brokered talks

BBC:

Israel and Lebanon have signed a framework agreement in Washington after several days of negotiations brokered by the US.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the agreement will begin to put in place a framework for lasting peace and security.

It comes as limited fighting has continued between Israeli forces and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, despite an existing ceasefire.

Hezbollah is not party to Friday’s agreement, and it is unclear whether it will agree to withdraw its fighters from the South Litani area in southern Lebanon.

Washington has feared that ongoing tension between Israel and Hezbollah could undermine its peace deal with Iran, which includes a commitment to end fighting on “all fronts”, including Lebanon.

In the 14-point framework agreement, Israel and Lebanon both “affirm” the right of each state to “live in peace”, and express “mutual desire to live in security as neighboring sovereign states”.

It makes specific note to a “cessation of all hostile or adverse actions in international political or legal fora” between Israel and Lebanon, with both nations pledging to work towards the release of detainees, as well as the return of any remains.

However, both governments acknowledge that “nothing in this Framework prevents them from exercising their inherent right to defend themselves”.

The agreement says that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will restore effective sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory, “pending the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of associated infrastructure”.

In order to achieve this, Lebanon makes a specific request for the support of international and “particularly Arab partners, under the leadership of the US”.

A US-supported military coordination group will also be established to help implement the framework.