BEIRUT, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement signed earlier in the day in Washington marked the beginning of the path toward restoring Lebanon's full sovereignty, vowing to continue working until the process is completed.
In a statement issued by the Lebanese Presidency, Aoun said the agreement represents the first step toward enabling displaced Lebanese to return to their land, stressing that Lebanon would no longer accept occupation.
Aoun thanked Washington for hosting and sponsoring the negotiations and expressed gratitude to Arab and friendly countries that backed Lebanon throughout the process.
The deal drew immediate opposition from Hezbollah. Its lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Friday the group would confront any attempt to implement the framework and would not relinquish its weapons, according to Lebanese news website Elnashra.
Fadlallah noted that Iran, a close ally of Hezbollah, had made clear that Tehran would not sign an agreement with Washington before a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, Elnashra reported.
The framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon aims to resolve longstanding disputes. According to Israel's state-owned Kan TV News, it includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from two areas in southern Lebanon as part of a pilot program.
The parties also agreed on how to address Hezbollah's tunnels in southern Lebanon and deal with the group's growing strength, Kan added. Enditem
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