Speaker Berri backs Hezbollah withdrawal south of Litani, but only alongside Israeli pullout
Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker criticizes the proposed U.S.-brokered truce as “booby-trapped,” insisting that any Hezbollah withdrawal must be matched by a full Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory.
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Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri confirmed in a statement that he agrees to Hezbollah's withdrawal from south of the Litani River, in parallel with Israel's withdrawal from the occupied areas.
Referring to the agreement reached in Washington between the Lebanese and Israeli delegations under American auspices, he said: "Instead of this hybrid agreement, we could have seen a positive beginning in the text if it had mentioned an unconditional ceasefire on land, sea, and air without demolishing everything in existence.
However, it was booby-trapped by including a complete ceasefire by Hezbollah, as well as the evacuation of all its elements from south of Litani."
He added: "And it would have been positive if it referred to withdrawal beyond the occupied borders, but it was booby-trapped with experimental areas without the entry of any active parties."
He stressed that he understands a full and unconditional ceasefire as one that applies on land, sea, and air, without bulldozing or demolishing everything in existence.
Berri concluded: "The rest of the text is tyrannical and not worth mentioning."
Lebanese and Israeli envoys announced this week a conditional truce requiring Hezbollah to cease fire and withdraw from the border area, while the Lebanese Army would deploy in new "experimental areas" in the region.
However, Hezbollah rejected the agreement, demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.