Israel 'agrees' to draft ceasefire with Hezbollah

Major Israeli media outlets reported on the night of November 24 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had "approved in principle" the US-brokered agreement, in which Tel Aviv would cease fire with the Hezbollah armed group in Lebanon.

Haaretzsaid the roadmap for implementing the ceasefire would be divided into three phases with the participation of Israel, Hezbollah, Lebanon and an international agency led by the US.

In the first phase, Hezbollah will move its forces in southern Lebanon to the northern bank of the Litani River, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw from southern Lebanon in the second phase. Finally, the Israeli and Lebanese governments will negotiate the demarcation of the borders in the "disputed" areas.

The US-led international body will be tasked with monitoring the ceasefire. Tel Aviv expects to receive an official document from Washington soon, confirming that the IDF reserves the right to "take military action" if Hezbollah violates the terms of the ceasefire.

In the draft ceasefire agreement, Israel would agree to let the Lebanese army take responsibility for preventing Hezbollah from re-establishing its presence near the border. The IDF would only act if the Lebanese army and international forces did not intervene and deal with Hezbollah violations.

Israeli, American and Lebanese officials revealed that Mr. Netanyahu's administration found that some details in the draft still needed to be adjusted, but basically agreed with the main contents and sent this message to Lebanon, according toYnet.

News agencyKanPrime Minister Netanyahu has convened a number of high-level consultations with security officials and ministers on how to communicate the deal to the domestic public, it was revealed.