Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hails yesterday’s framework agreement with Lebanon as “a historic achievement for Israel” that advances progress toward ending the bilateral conflict and opens the prospect of “an eventual peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.”

Axar.az reports, citing The Times of Israel, speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu said the deal is “a major blow” to Iran and to Hezbollah, and claims it marks US and Lebanese agreement to Israel holding a security zone in Lebanon for as long as is needed for Israeli security.

“We’ll continue to hold it until Hezbollah and other terror groups are disarmed,” he said of the current security zone, “until there is no longer a threat to Israel from Lebanon.”

Thus, he added, Israel is retaining the entire security zone area that it needs to protect northern Israel.