Publication of the Full Text of the Agreement Signed between Lebanon and Israel

SadaNews - The full text of the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel has been published. The agreement was signed in Washington on Friday evening after four days of negotiations, as part of the fifth round of direct talks between the two sides.

Under the agreement, Israel and Lebanon announced their intention to end the conflict between them, address its underlying causes, and officially terminate any state of war. They committed to a clear process that would restore Lebanese forces' effective sovereignty over Lebanese territories. It also stipulates that the Lebanese army will gradually assume full security responsibility in two experimental regions in southern Lebanon.

Below is the full text of the framework agreement:

Israel and Lebanon affirm the right of each state to exist in peace and their mutual desire to live securely as two sovereign and neighboring states. The two sides declare their intent under this framework to end their conflict definitively, address its underlying causes, and officially terminate any ongoing state of war between them. This framework, which was reached after several rounds of direct negotiations between the two parties, is based on previous agreements and understandings that have proven successful, and expresses a shared determination to make irreversible progress toward a comprehensive settlement of all outstanding issues between the two countries. Both parties reaffirm their commitment to addressing these issues as sovereign states through direct bilateral negotiations, with mediation and support from the United States of America.

The Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Republic of Lebanon commit to a mutual and gradual path, according to a clear sequence and specific conditions, whereby the Lebanese armed forces will extend the effective authority of the state over all Lebanese territory, following the verification of the disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantling their infrastructure, allowing Israeli forces to gradually redeploy outside Lebanese territories. The details of this path will be defined in a security annex prepared with full support from the United States, which complements this framework. The framework specifies the necessary measures, security arrangements, and verification mechanisms needed to advance this path. The successful implementation of this framework will pave the way for a stable and peaceful relationship between the two countries and enable Israeli forces to redeploy outside Lebanese territory.

In accordance with the security annex and within the broader effort to entrench the Lebanese state's monopoly on arms and establish its sovereignty over all its territory, the Lebanese armed forces will gradually assume full and effective security responsibility in experimental areas, forming the mechanism through which the phased and verified redeployment of Israeli forces is executed, in parallel with the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces. The Israeli and Lebanese armed forces have agreed on two initial experimental areas, with further experimental areas to be agreed upon mutually by both sides. Upon verifying the success of the disarmament of non-state armed groups and the dismantling of their infrastructure in these areas, the Lebanese armed forces will assume complete and effective security responsibility there, and reconstruction efforts will begin with international support, allowing Lebanese civilians to safely return to those areas under the exclusive control of legitimate Lebanese authorities. The United States intends to work closely with both countries to verify and support the implementation of this process.

The Government of the Republic of Lebanon reaffirms its unwavering and irrevocable commitment to restoring and exercising its full sovereignty over all its territory. The Government of the Republic of Lebanon commits to re-establishing the state's monopoly on the use of force, achieving complete and verified disarmament of all non-state armed groups, and ensuring that these groups play no military or security role and do not possess any armed capabilities anywhere in Lebanese territory. Under this framework, the Government of the Republic of Lebanon requests support from international partners, especially Arab partners, led by the United States, to achieve this goal.

The Government of the State of Israel emphasizes that its military operations in Lebanon have been exclusively the result of attacks, threats, and hostile intentions emanating from non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah. The Israeli government stresses that ending this threat, through the disarmament of these groups and the dismantling of their infrastructure throughout Lebanon, along with the additional security arrangements agreed upon by the two countries, will eliminate any future need for military action or military presence of Israeli forces in Lebanon. Based on the above, the Government of Israel declares that it harbors no territorial ambitions or claims in Lebanon.

The Government of the Republic of Lebanon affirms, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and in exercising its sovereign authority, that its security forces hold exclusive responsibility for the security and defense of Lebanon, and that only the Government of the Republic of Lebanon has the exclusive sovereign authority to make decisions of war and peace. The Government of the Republic of Lebanon rejects any claim from any state or non-governmental entity of using force on its behalf without explicit authorization from it and reiterates that any claim from any state or non-governmental entity to assume a military or security role is illegal under Lebanese government resolutions and contradicts Lebanese national interests.

The Government of the Republic of Lebanon and the Government of the State of Israel affirm that nothing in this framework prevents them from exercising their inherent right to self-defense, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and in alignment with the provisions of applicable international law, while reiterating that no third party may exercise this right on their behalf. The two governments also commit to establishing a military coordination group, supported and participated in by the United States, to ensure the comprehensive implementation of this framework.

The two countries affirm that they share the goal of establishing a secure and rebuilt Lebanon, enjoying full Lebanese state sovereignty, in which no non-state armed group poses a threat to Israel or Lebanon or to the citizens of either country. The two countries also acknowledge that restoring security in southern Lebanon through the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces, the safe return of civilian populations, and ensuring the security of population centers in northern Israel are all essential elements for achieving long-term stability and peace.

The Government of the Republic of Lebanon commits to implementing a rigorous performance-based program aimed at enabling the Lebanese armed forces to exercise full military and security control within Lebanon, in accordance with the security arrangements agreed upon in the negotiations, and implementing the disarmament of all non-state armed groups and effectively exercising state authority throughout Lebanon. The Government of the Republic of Lebanon welcomes the readiness of the United States to support these efforts, acknowledging that any new American aid will be strictly conditioned on achieving specific and verifiable milestones, complete transparency, demonstrable results, and continued oversight mechanisms. These efforts will allow the safe and orderly re-establishment of Lebanese sovereignty, which will also contribute to enhancing stability and security throughout the Middle East region.

In parallel, the United States will work to rally international partners to effectively support the Government of the Republic of Lebanon in rebuilding the country, rehabilitating infrastructure, reviving the economy, and creating opportunities for prosperity. It is expected that this will include mobilizing significant aid for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, launching economic recovery programs, and investment initiatives, enabling Lebanon to recover from years of conflict and providing a better future for all its citizens.

The Republic of Lebanon and the United States commit to preventing funds from reaching any entity, organization, or individual linked to any non-state armed group and to taking all legal measures available to prohibit activities of any of these entities or organizations or individuals. The Government of the Republic of Lebanon also explicitly commits to preventing reconstruction funds from reaching non-state armed groups or to entities connected to them.

Immediately upon the signing of this framework, the two countries will work to establish working groups tasked with preparing a comprehensive peace and security agreement. Additionally, to achieve the objectives of this framework, the two governments will immediately establish parallel pathways for direct and ongoing communication, facilitated by the United States. Both governments commit to continue working in good faith until a complete and enduring peace is reached that ensures security, stability, and prosperity for the peoples of Israel and Lebanon.

In line with their shared goal of establishing stable and peaceful relations, Israel and Lebanon commit to taking good faith actions that reflect their positive intentions, including ceasing all hostile or harmful acts in international political or legal forums, working on the search for remains and their return, and releasing detainees.

The governments of the Republic of Lebanon and the State of Israel express their appreciation for the role played by the United States in supporting their efforts to end decades of conflict and establish lasting stability and comprehensive peace between the two countries, and they express their deep appreciation for the vision and leadership provided by President Donald Trump.