Benjamin Netanyahu's government has instructed the Israeli army not to withdraw from the eastern sector of southern Lebanon, despite the fact that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah stipulates a complete Israeli withdrawal within a period of 60 days, which ends the day after tomorrow, Sunday.

This came according to what the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation ("Kan 11") reported today, Friday, indicating that "the political leadership directed the Israeli army yesterday evening, Thursday, not to withdraw at this stage from the eastern sector in southern Lebanon."

This comes as the Lebanese Hezbollah party confirmed yesterday, Thursday, that the approaching end of the 60-day period for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon "necessitates full and comprehensive implementation, in accordance with what was stated in the ceasefire agreement," noting that this means "the occupation entering a new chapter."

"Kan 11" pointed out that the occupation army "began its redeployment in the western sector, according to the agreement it signed with the Lebanese government."

In this regard, the Broadcasting Authority stated that the Israeli army "is redeploying in the western sector, according to pre-prepared plans, as happened in the Naqoura and Tyre Harfa areas, in coordination with America and the Lebanese army, which has begun to deploy in the region."

The report stated that the message that reached senior officials in the Israeli army, from the political level, is that "Israel is holding talks with the new administration in the United States, to obtain additional time until the complete withdrawal from Lebanon," noting that it is "a period of time, ranging from days to weeks."

Gantz, Lieberman: IDF must not withdraw from southern Lebanon on Sunday

The head of the "National Camp", Benny Gantz, addressed the agreement with Hezbollah, and said that "the Israeli army is prohibited from leaving the buffer zone in Lebanon."

He added, on Friday, that "we must insist on the full implementation of the agreement by the Lebanese government."

In turn, the head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, Avigdor Lieberman, called for the Israeli army not to withdraw from southern Lebanon as well. According to his claim, “the Lebanese side has violated the agreement, and there is no real deployment of the Lebanese army along the border, and it is unable to control Hezbollah or disarm it.”

According to the report, "The Israeli army is preparing for Hezbollah's attempts to undermine the ceasefire, as a result of its remaining in southern Lebanon, as well as for the Lebanese' attempts to return to the villages, where its forces will remain," noting that Israel has committed hundreds of violations of the ceasefire agreement.

He pointed out that Israel believes that the Lebanese army's ability to deploy effectively in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon, and destroy Hezbollah facilities that are transferred to it from the Israeli army through the American mechanism, is still insufficient.

"Kan 11" quoted Israeli army sources as saying that they realize that the Lebanese army is working and trying to impose its control in the area, but it is still facing a challenge from Hezbollah, and "needs more time to strengthen its strength."

The Israeli ambassador to Washington, Mike Herzog, told the Israeli Army Radio on Thursday that Israel is holding discussions with officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump about extending the Israeli army's occupation of southern Lebanon.

According to Herzog, the US administration is aware of Israel's security needs, and he estimated that understandings would be reached in this regard.

He claimed that the ceasefire agreement, which stipulates the withdrawal of the Israeli army after 60 days, “is not engraved in stone, and was drafted in such a way that there is a certain flexibility,” and that the aim of the deliberations between Israel and the Trump administration is to “extend the period required for the Lebanese army to actually deploy its forces and implement its purpose under the agreement.”