Update: PM Netanyahu not withdrawing from Lebanon now
Dr. Aaron Lerner 24 January 2025

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Prime Minister's Office Statement

The Prime Minister's Office, this afternoon (Friday, 24 January 2025) [translated from Hebrew]:

The ceasefire framework in Lebanon determined that the gradual withdrawal of the IDF from Lebanon should be implemented within 60 days. This article is based on the understanding that the withdrawal process could possibly continue beyond the 60 days.

The withdrawal process of the IDF is conditioned on the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement while Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani.

Since the ceasefire agreement has yet to be fully enforced by the Lebanese state, the gradual withdrawal process will continue, in full coordination with the US.

The State of Israel will not endanger its communities and its citizens and will insist on the complete implementation of the war objective in Lebanon – the return of the Israeli residents safely to their homes on the north.
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Dear Reader,

We will never know what role, if any, public warnings against carrying out the withdrawal had on the decision-making process which resulted in the withdrawal not taking place for the time being.

But since we don't have a time machine for a second chance, we cannot afford to be silent in the hopes that things work out.
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PM Netanyahu must resign if he reaffirms his "doormat" status by withdrawing from Lebanon
Dr. Aaron Lerner 23 January 2025

We face many critical issues for our future, and if President Trump thinks that our leader is a “doormat,” we are doomed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a one-time opportunity to change his “doormat” status in President Trump’s eyes.
We all understand that we must keep IDF forces in Lebanon. This is not a political issue in Israel at all.

According to media reports, instead of informing the Trump administration that we are staying in Lebanon, we asked for permission from the Trump administration to remain there, and they objected. It was a mistake to ask for permission instead of declaring our intent, but that is behind us now.

When we caved into Trump’s envoy and accepted the terms of the agreement with Hamas, Trump labeled Netanyahu as a “doormat.”

It is critical to change the designation of “doormat” for our prime minister by Mr. Trump, because a country whose leader is considered a “doormat” will not win Trump’s support on Gaza, Iran, or any other critical issue.

Therefore, with great regret, if we withdraw from Lebanon in the coming days, for the sake of us all, Netanyahu must resign in a process that immediately installs a replacement who will act decisively (e.g., annexation?) to signal to Trump that he is not a “doormat.”

To be clear: I am not looking for an excuse to remove Netanyahu. With all my heart, I want him to do the right thing, so he can continue to lead.

But if Mr. Netanyahu has resigned himself to being President Trump's “doormat,” he must resign.


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