Netanyahu Sees “Historic Peace Agreement Opportunity” With Lebanon, Promotes Trump’s Mediation

[The Financial News] A temporary ceasefire between the State of Israel and Lebanon, led by United States President Donald John Trump, has opened the door to a formal shift toward peace negotiations. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, has made it clear that he intends to enter talks from a position of military superiority, marking a new turning point in the region’s dynamics.
In a video message released on the 16th (local time) after a meeting of his security cabinet, Netanyahu said, "We now have an opportunity to reach a historic peace agreement with Lebanon," adding, "President Trump plans to invite both sides and push ahead with full-fledged negotiations."
He highlighted Israel’s recent military operations as the main backdrop to the ceasefire. Netanyahu pointed to the 2024 pager explosions targeting Hezbollah operatives, the destruction of missile depots, and the killing of Hezbollah’s top leader Hassan Nasrallah, arguing that these actions "have completely changed the balance of power inside Lebanon."
Netanyahu also revealed that direct diplomatic outreach had taken place. "Over the past month, we received a direct request for talks from Lebanon for the first time in about 40 years," he explained. "We responded to that request, but a meeting between the leaders did not materialize because the President of Lebanon refused."
At the same time, he made clear that military pressure will continue even during negotiations. Netanyahu stressed, "We need the disarmament of Hezbollah and a sustainable peace achieved through strength," firmly rejecting calls for a full withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He added, "We will continue to maintain our presence in an expanded 10‐kilometer-wide security zone in southern Lebanon."
He singled out Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal as a core agenda item for future talks. Netanyahu noted that it is "an issue that must be resolved in the process of reaching a permanent peace agreement."
Coordination with the United States was also underscored. Netanyahu said he had spoken directly with President Donald Trump over the past two days, and reported that "President Trump has shown strong determination to maintain a maritime blockade on the Islamic Republic of Iran and to dismantle its remaining nuclear capabilities."
He went on to say that, working together with the United States, "we can completely remove the threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and fundamentally reshape the security and diplomatic landscape for years to come."

km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter