How is framework agreement with Lebanon viewed in Israel ?

What Happened

On Friday, Israel, Lebanon, and the United States signed a framework agreement in Washington to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The deal outlines a 'sequenced process' whereby the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) 'will gradually assume full and effective security responsibility' in two pilot zones, leading to Israeli forces progressively redeploying from southern Lebanon, where they have been operating since early March. The completion of this process requires verified disarmament of 'non-state armed groups', a direct reference to Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the agreement as a blow to Iranian influence, while opposition leader Yair Lapid and former Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticised it. Northern Israeli leaders expressed cautious optimism but stressed that any withdrawal must be conditional on Hezbollah's disarmament. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem rejected the framework outright, calling it 'null and void' and insisting the recent Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding should be the basis for ending the conflict.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The framework represents a US-led attempt to de-escalate the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and roll back Iranian influence in Lebanon, but its implementation is highly contested. Hezbollah's outright rejection and the reluctance of Israeli political and local leaders to withdraw without verified disarmament raise the risk of a failed agreement, potentially prolonging or reigniting hostilities. The deal also intersects with US-Iran diplomacy and Israel's domestic political dynamics ahead of possible elections.

Watch For

Monitor whether the two pilot zones are established and whether the LAF can effectively assert control there, as this will be the first test of implementation. Hezbollah's actions on the ground and any further statements from Naim Qassem will indicate whether the group intends to obstruct the process. In Israel, watch for political pressure on Netanyahu from northern communities and opposition figures, which could influence the timing and conditions of any Israeli redeployment.