Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday published a video statement commenting on the signing of the historic security framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
While the video statement was circulated after the start of Shabbat, a rare occurrence, Netanyahu states at the start of his remarks that the video was recorded before the start of Shabbat.
“Citizens of Israel, before the start of Shabbat, I want to share with you a major achievement for the State of Israel. As you know, we have been conducting negotiations in Washington among representatives from Israel, Lebanon, and the United States. These have been lengthy negotiations, and today they have borne fruit,” began Netanyahu.
He stressed, “The most critical point is that, first and foremost, Israel remains in the security zone in southern Lebanon. This is a significant achievement, and we will maintain this presence as long as Hezbollah is not disarmed, and as long as a threat is posed to the State of Israel.“
On the impact the agreement has on Iran, the Prime Minister explained, “This is also a major blow to Iran. Iran is attempting to force us into a unilateral withdrawal from southern Lebanon. In effect, Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are telling them: this is none of your business. You have no role in Lebanon – neither you, nor Hezbollah, nor any other terrorist organization.“
“Furthermore,” continued Netanyahu, “we are enabling the Lebanese Armed Forces to begin organizing to take over territory. We are establishing two pilot zones, both based on the IDF’s recommendations. One is entirely outside the security zone, south of the Litani, and the second is north of the Litani – a small portion of which sits within the expanded security zone we secured over the past two weeks, which the IDF has explicitly stated it does not need.“
Netanyahu stressed, “We are continuously maintaining the original security zone beyond anti-tank missile range, allowing neither Hezbollah nor the civilian population to enter. It remains secure. Most importantly, Israel is declaring: our security comes before everything else.“
'Shameless Propaganda': Watchdog Chief Says UN Bias Against Israel Worsened After October 7
Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, believes the United Nations’ treatment of Israel has become significantly worse since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, pointing to both statements and actions by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Speaking to Arutz Sheva on the sidelines of the JNS International Policy Conference in Jerusalem, Neuer reflected on more than two decades of work at UN Watch.
Asked whether the battle has become more difficult, Neuer replied, “It’s hard to imagine, but the pathological UN, which obsesses over Israel, got even so much worse after October 7th, in particular because of Antonio Guterres.”
Recalling remarks made by the Secretary-General shortly after the Hamas attack, Neuer said Guterres condemned the attacks but also stated that “the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum.”
“He effectively went on to justify what happened because he enumerated numerous alleged grievances by the Palestinians, basically justifying what they did,” Neuer said.
Asked whether his criticism was directed only at Guterres’ public statements or also at UN actions, Neuer responded that it was both.
“It’s statements and actions. He set a tone. UN agencies all around the world have been attacking Israel like never before since October 7th,” he said.
Referring to the recent conflict with Iran, Neuer argued that UN bodies had focused their criticism on Israel and the United States while failing to hold Iran accountable.
“It was shameless propaganda coming out of Guterres’ office,” he said.
Neuer also addressed a recent exchange involving Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon during a discussion on sexual violence in conflict.
According to Neuer, Danon was criticizing UN officials after “the secretary general shamelessly placed Israel on the same list as Hamas.”
He said a senior UN official, Vanessa Frazier, interrupted Danon’s remarks in a manner that violated UN procedure.
“She interrupted him. She started shouting. And she has no right to do that,” Neuer said, adding that such treatment would not be directed at representatives of other countries.
“The fact that she had the audacity, the chutzpah, to do that is something they would only do against Israel, and it reflects the message that Guterres is sending around the UN.”
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