SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you. Today is a good day in that we are happy to announce the - a framework agreement between the sovereign Government of Lebanon and of course the Government of Israel, with the mediation and support of the United States of America, that begins to put in place a framework for lasting peace and security. And that's what these two nations deserve.
The people of Lebanon have suffered tremendously now for decades as a result of outside interference in their affairs, of countries trying to use the country as a launchpad for attacks, and this is not what the people of Lebanon want and that's not what they deserve. What they deserve to have is what they once had, and of which there is recent history of, and that is a prosperous and peaceful country, a diverse country where people of different backgrounds are able to live and coexist side by side and, in many ways, was the envy of the region and of the world. And it will take a lot of work and some time to get back to that point, but we believe today is the first step in that journey. And the first step is sometimes the hardest step, but it's the one we're taking together today.
Obviously the people of Israel deserve to live in peace and security - the people of northern Israel in particular, who have been targeted repeatedly by terrorist attacks launched from the territory of Lebanon, but not by the Lebanese people, not by the Lebanese Government, but by an outside actor who has sought to use that territory to target innocent civilians who have been unable to live in these places for a long time. Every time a siren goes off you have to stop your schoolwork, you have to stop - you have to wake up. You have to stop going to work and you have to run into a bunker or a basement and protect yourself.
So as I said today, as I told all the parties here today, it's the beginning of the beginning. There is a lot of work ahead. We don't in any way underestimate the difficulty of the task ahead. But we understand the importance of it, how vital it is, and we are honored to have played a part in bringing this together.
I want to specifically recognize all of the representatives here from both sides, the ambassador from Lebanon to the United States who's a phenomenal ambassador, who I've known for a while, who we even share a common background here in the United States coming from the - we have Florida ties. And so we're very grateful for all the work she's put in. Obviously Ambassador Leiter and his team and the work they've done here today, everyone, all the team that you see assembled here today, including the support we got from the Department of War in these conversations. Our ambassador to Lebanon has done a great job, and we're so honored he's here with us today, and our team here - led by Dan Holler, our counselor - our team here at the State Department did a phenomenal job. If people want to see the value of professional diplomatic work and of diplomacy, that's what the team here has put together, and I'm very proud of what we've done here at this Department in bringing this about.
As I said, today is the first step. This first step sometimes is the hardest one, but it's an important one and the one we've taken together. And we're very grateful that this has come about and that the timing is such that all of you could cover it and report it back, and hopefully we'll have many more of these conversations and make real and tangible progress so that the people of both of these countries can be hopeful about their future - a future of peace, a future of prosperity, a future of mutual coexistence in a way that's beneficial to the men and women and children, including those not yet born, who deserve what all people deserve, and that is the right to live in their country without fear of harm, without fear of war, without fear of conflict.
And that's what we hope to be able to facilitate and achieve, and today we've taken the first step in what will be a difficult journey, without a doubt, but an important and an essential and a necessary one. And we're very proud to be a part of it. Thank you for covering it, and now I think we will formalize what our conversations here have been about.
AMBASSADOR HAMADEH: Thank you. On behalf of President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam, we would like to thank President Trump, Secretary Rubio, Counselor Holler, Ambassador Issa, and the U.S. Government team for hosting and facilitating these historic talks in Washington, D.C.
The trilateral framework we sign today is a first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing a permanent and final cessation of hostilities, enabling our people to go back to their land, and allowing all Lebanese to live in peace, security, and prosperity.
This was a long and difficult meeting. We are grateful to the hosts and to the two delegations for their cooperation during these talks. This milestone was made possible through the leadership of President Aoun, the tenacity of Prime Minister Salam, the resilience of Ambassador Karam, and the patriotism of the Lebanese Armed Forces. Thank you all so much.
AMBASSADOR LEITER: Your Excellencies, ambassadors, Mr. Secretary, I want to first express my appreciation to Secretary Rubio and his incredible team. Under his leadership, we've advanced President Trump's vision of peace and security, of peace through strength. We've advanced a historical and important process forward.
I want to express my deepest appreciation to my colleagues: Dr. Draznin of the NSA, our foreign ministry personnel, our IDF officers, who worked alongside together with me under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his team back in Jerusalem. I also want to thank Her Excellency, Ambassador Hamadeh, for being a very tough negotiator. You and your team set an example for patriotism to your country. You fight like a lioness, Ms. Ambassador.
In my opening remarks four days ago, I expressed concern that this train was running off the tracks, that Iran and its proxies wanted a trainwreck. Well, with a lot of hard work under your leadership, Dan, together with Secretary Rubio and his entire staff - indefatigable team - we have put the train back on the tracks, and it's running in the right direction. Final destination: peace between our two countries - real peace, where both countries will live in security; where Israel's and Lebanon's sovereignty will be respected, honored, and protected.
In this performance-based trilateral framework agreement, Iran is out, Hizballah is out, and the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in. This would not have been possible without the resilience of the people of Israel, and especially the residents of our northern Galilee, who have remained resolute in the face of Hizballah terror.
And last but not least, I want to thank the real heroes who have made this possible: the men and women of the IDF, who selflessly defend Israel, many of whom have given their lives in the battle against Iran and its proxies. I thank God for the privilege of representing the people of Israel and to sign this document on their behalf.
This week's Torah portion, the Bible portion, in synagogues all across the world, tells of a false prophet by the name of Balaam who came to curse but ended up blessing. May we together turn the curses of war into blessings of peace.
God bless Israel, may God bless Lebanon, and may God bless the United States of America and all those who pursue peace. Thank you.
(The framework was signed.)
