Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said a US-brokered framework between Lebanon and Israel “won’t be implemented,” warning that the deal could fuel attempts to split Lebanese society and draw the country into conflict with itself.
Berri made the remarks in comments carried by Lebanon’s al-Akhbar, criticizing the agreement’s political impact and saying its most dangerous element was the potential it had to incite internal divisions.
His comments came after Israeli officials indicated the agreement could move forward soon, though there were no immediate reports of implementation on the ground. The framework has been promoted by Israel as creating a pathway for Israel’s forces to redeploy from southern Lebanon if Hezbollah does not disarm, while Hezbollah and its supporters have rejected it as surrender to Israel.
The agreement—signed by Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington—envisions a phased arrangement in which the Lebanese military would take control of territory in “pilot zones,” linked to a verified disarmament process for non-state groups, a reference to Hezbollah. Israeli officials said the pilot zone process could begin immediately, with redeployment potentially starting in the coming days, and identified areas in southern Lebanon included in the mapped zones.
Berri argued that separating Lebanon from the wider US-Iran diplomatic track would prolong the Israeli occupation, and he pointed to Iran-US negotiations as the only realistic route to securing Israeli withdrawal. He also suggested that the deal’s structure risks pulling Lebanon into a confrontation among Lebanese factions rather than delivering stability.
The dispute reflects deep political divisions inside Lebanon over engagement with Israel and the role of Hezbollah, which has demanded that Beirut halt face-to-face talks with Israel.
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