The President of Parliament, Nabih Berri, in his office at Ain el-Tineh during the visit of French diplomat Stéphane Séjourné, on April 28, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Friday in a statement that he rejects the new Lebanon cease-fire agreement in its entirety, calling it a "trap" and an "unjust text." The proposal was announced on Wednesday in Washington.
The leader of the Shiite Amal Movement nevertheless suggested that Hezbollah could withdraw from the area south of the Litani River if Israeli forces withdraw from southern Lebanon, where they currently occupy more than 600 square kilometers and dozens of entirely destroyed villages.
"Instead of this hybrid agreement, we might have seen a positive point at the beginning of the text, if it had called for an unconditional cease-fire on land, at sea and in the air, without the destruction of everything that exists," the Amal leader said.
'Withdrawal of Hezbollah in exchange for Israeli withdrawal'
"But it was a trap, because it added a full cease-fire by Hezbollah, as well as the evacuation of all its fighters from south of the Litani. I might have seen a positive point if I had read 'a withdrawal outside the occupied borders,' but it was a trap ('in pilot areas with the intervention of no party'!!!??)," he added.
According to the text released by the State Department, the Lebanese Army would exercise "exclusive control of the territory, excluding any non-state actor," in these areas, which have not yet been defined.
Berri concluded: "To be brief, I approve the following: 1 - a total and complete cease-fire, with no restriction or condition, on land, at sea and in the air, and without the demolition of everything that exists. 2 - The withdrawal of Hezbollah from south of the Litani, in parallel with Israeli withdrawal from the occupied areas. The rest of the text is unjust and does not deserve to be mentioned."
The document also called for continued discussions among the different parties to establish a "security framework" that must guarantee, among other things, "the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Lebanon and Israel" and specifically includes "the dismantling of non-state armed groups as well as preventing their reconstitution."
The United States also stressed that any cessation of hostilities must be concluded directly between the two states, under American mediation, "and not through a parallel channel," referring to Hezbollah and Tehran's wish for a truce to be included in a broader U.S.-Iran agreement.
On Thursday, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem also rejected the agreement, calling it "a surrender and a defeat" and demanding a "comprehensive" cease-fire and an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not submit the cease-fire agreement with Lebanon for approval, according to Yedioth Ahronoth, following a security cabinet meeting Thursday evening after Hezbollah's rejection.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that he was "awaiting responses" from the parties involved, especially Hezbollah, adding that the truce "could be implemented within 24 hours of its final approval," calling it the "last chance" to avoid further escalation of the war.
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