Israeli officials refuse Lebanon concessions, say 'Israel is the loser' in US-Iran deal
Israeli officials have described the emerging Washington-Tehran deal as a deeply disappointing and problematic development that falls far short of Israel’s strategic goals.
"This is not what we hoped for," defense officials told Israeli Ynetnews.
According to these sources, the Israeli military is strongly recommending that the political leadership refuse any immediate concessions.
The military insists on three non-negotiable priorities: preserving Israel's operational freedom to strike throughout Lebanon, maintaining the active buffer zone where forces are currently deployed, and ensuring the absolute demilitarization of southern Lebanon.
A senior Israeli official said, following the publication of the agreement's clauses, that "Iran is the big winner" and "Israel is the loser". "Iran has emerged as a global power, while Israel has gone from a regional powerhouse to the world’s punching bag. In a situation like this, it will be incredibly difficult for Netanyahu to oppose a withdrawal from Lebanon. The pressure on him is only going to grow," the official said.
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