The withdrawal will not follow the timetable because "the ceasefire agreement has not been fully implemented by the Lebanese state", according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, reports Israeli media.
According to this message, Israel will continue a more gradual withdrawal in agreement with the USA.
The agreement from November 27 brought a temporary end to the war against the Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah and meant that Israel's military would leave southern Lebanon within 60 days.
Israel's government is focusing on the wording of the agreement – that it "should not exceed" 60 days – and sees it as implied that the process may take longer than that.
Pressure from several directions
In Lebanon, the newly elected President Joseph Aoun has, on behalf of the state, tried to put pressure on Israel. Last weekend, in connection with a visit from the UN Secretary-General, he accused the Israelis of repeatedly breaking the ceasefire with military attacks.
Aoun is in turn being heavily pressured by the still influential Hezbollah. The Shia movement's leader Naim Qassem demanded on Saturday that the government take action against Israel's "hundreds" of violations:
We have been patient with the violations to give the Lebanese state, which is responsible for this agreement together with international sponsors, a chance. But I want to urge you not to test our patience.
The USA has not yet commented on Israel's message, but on Thursday it was reported that Donald Trump's new government has a clear expectation that Israel will follow the timetable.
To take control in the south
In the November agreement, the parties agreed on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, two months after a full-scale war in which Israeli forces advanced into southern Lebanon. As part of the agreement, it is up to Lebanon's regular but relatively weak army to deploy forces in the south, where they will maintain peace together with international UN forces.
Hezbollah, in turn, is to withdraw northwards, north of the Litani River and further away from Israel. They are then not allowed to have any military capabilities remaining in the south. This has been the premise even in previous agreements over the years, without it happening in practice.
