Israeli withdrawal: outgoing Israeli ambassador to US says two-month deadline 'not set in stone'

Israel's outgoing ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, said that Israel is holding talks with the Trump administration to extend the Israeli army's presence in southern Lebanon beyond the Jan. 26 deadline set by the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, reported Haaretz.

"The agreement provided a 60-day timeline for the withdrawal [of the Israeli army] from southern Lebanon and for the Lebanese army to take its place, but this timeline is not set in stone and was formulated with some flexibility," Herzog said on Israeli army radio.

"We are in discussions with the Trump administration to extend the necessary time for the Lebanese Army to truly deploy and fulfill its role under the agreement. These discussions are ongoing. The incoming administration understands our needs and our position on security, and I believe we will reach an agreement on this issue," he added.

The Israeli government appointed Yechiel Leiter, a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as ambassador to the United States in November last year to succeed Michael Herzog. Herzog was initially supposed to remain in office until Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.

The truce that came into effect on Nov. 27, 2024, between Hezbollah and Israel was accompanied by a two-month period during which Israel is to withdraw from the territories it occupies in southern Lebanon and where the Lebanese Army is to deploy, while Hezbollah must withdraw north of the Litani river.