Lebanon’s Berri slams framework agreement, warns against direct talks with Israel under aggression

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has reiterated his strong opposition to a US-mediated framework agreement between the Beirut government and Israel, warning about the fallout of direct negotiations with the Tel Aviv regime under relentless Israeli assaults targeting southern Lebanon.

“The current stage, with its existential risks, does not grant anyone the right to act on any of the sovereign titles under any pretext, whether a framework agreement or secret appendices or otherwise,” Berri said on Monday as he addressed a ceremony marking the 48th anniversary of the disappearance of prominent Lebanese Shia leader and the Amal Movement founder Imam Moussa Sadr and his two companions.

He noted that the expanse of Israeli-occupied Lebanese territory has expanded after seven rounds of negotiations, and Israel is pressing ahead with its onslaught.

“We exercised our democratic right in rejecting the framework agreement, and we maintain the same position, and we warned against negotiating with the Israeli enemy under fire,” Berri said.

Hezbollah MP: US-sponsored Lebanon-Israel framework agreement 'null and void'

A Lebanese lawmaker has sharply criticized the US-sponsored framework agreement between the Beirut government and the Tel Aviv regime as "null and void".

He said the south constitutes an integral part of Lebanon, emphasizing it is the Lebanese government’s obligation to “protect it and its citizens and to oversee reconstruction there.”

He warned that Israel is “not going after Hezbollah [resistance movement] and its weapons or the Amal Movement or the Shia community,” but is rather “seeking to foment strife.”

“We categorically reject any questioning of the army’s role as a national institution that is the protector and nurturer of the hopes and aspirations of the Lebanese people,” Berri added.

He also cautioned that any call for partitioning or federalism would be inconsistent with the Taif Agreement, but rather an adventure that threatens the existence of Lebanon.

On October 22, 1988, Christian and Muslim members of the Parliament of Lebanon signed a pact in Saudi Arabia’s Taif, pledging to abolish sectarianism.

The agreement, known as the Taif Accord, sought a political settlement to a bloody war – partly fueled by sectarianism – that killed more than 100,000 people.

“We affirm our commitment to the Taif Agreement and reject any other projects,” Berri pointed out.

Lebanon and Israel signed a US-sponsored framework agreement on June 26, which stipulates a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, accompanied by the deployment of the Lebanese army. Subsequent negotiations have concentrated on the mechanisms required to implement the agreement and ensure the completion of the withdrawal.

Since March 2, Israel has continued its offensive against Lebanon, which has claimed the lives of more than 4,000 individuals and left more than 12,000 others injured. Lebanese authorities report that over 1 million people have been displaced as well.

Israel maintains its occupation of certain areas in southern Lebanon, with some regions being held for decades and others since the 2023-24 war, while its recent military aggression has further extended its reach into Lebanese territory.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir