Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab during a television interview on LBCI on May 24, 2023. (Credit: Screenshot LBCI)
BEIRUT — Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab condemned recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon as "unjustified" and "a flagrant violation" of the cease-fire deal with Israel. His remarks followed a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh on Wednesday, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Since the cease-fire agreement between Lebanon and Israel went into effect a week ago, the Israeli army has launched airstrikes, destroyed homes and advanced into several southern Lebanese villages using bulldozers. The truce, brokered by the United States and France, followed more than 13 months of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which ran parallel to the war in Gaza.
Bou Saab said after the meeting that he discussed with Berri the "hostilities and aggression carried out by the Israeli enemy in flagrant violation of the agreement that was made."
Bou Saab criticized Israel's actions, saying they reveal the Israeli army’s duplicity in claiming self-defense. "These attacks have no justification and violate the terms of the agreement," he said. "[Israel] is trying to justify its actions to the international community under the pretext of self-defense, but in reality, these are hostile acts and a breach of the agreement."
The deputy speaker expressed hope that a monitoring committee — comprising representatives from the Lebanese Army, the Israeli military, France, the U.S., and UNIFIL — would soon begin its work, ensuring better enforcement of the truce.
"This agreement was designed ... to succeed," Bou Saab said. "In the coming days, ... the committee will become effective, and violations and attacks on the Lebanese will cease"
In addition to discussing the cease-fire, Bou Saab said he and Berri reviewed preparations for the upcoming presidential election session, scheduled for Jan. 9.
"We are still working toward a consensus candidate — one that can secure 86 votes [a two-thirds majority ]— and not a divisive figure imposed in any way," Bou Saab said. "It is better to reach an agreement than to elect a president with 65 votes," which would only deepen divisions, Bou Saab added.
He emphasized that the session would continue until a president is elected.