Jerusalem: Weeks after the Lebanese cabinet approved the plan to disarm the Hezbollah group by the end of this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement on Monday, welcomed Beirut’s “momentous decision”. He asserted that the Israeli troops will withdraw from the country if this happens.
Netanyahu said that Israel will respond with reciprocal measures if Lebanon takes the necessary steps to disarm Hezbollah. This, he said, includes phased reduction of the Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon.