Nabih Berri: Our Priority Is the Withdrawal of the Occupiers, Not Signing American Dictates
Nabih Berri warns the Washington agreement threatens Lebanon’s unity and says the country’s priority is ending the Israeli occupation, not signing American dictates.
Lebanon, PUREWILAYAH.COM – Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that before addressing any other issue, Lebanon’s priority must be the withdrawal of the occupiers from Lebanese territory, ending the aggressions, the release of prisoners, and the return of the people of southern Lebanon to their villages.
Speaking to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, Berri said the agreement signed in Washington between Lebanon and the Israeli regime under US supervision was a “dictate” and “worse than the May 17, 1983 Agreement.”
He said the agreement represented a retreat from the established principles that had guided negotiations with the occupiers and stressed that it would not be implemented.
Ending the Occupation Comes First
Berri said Lebanon’s priority should remain ending the occupation rather than pursuing any other file.
He stressed that the withdrawal of the occupiers, ending Israeli aggressions, the release of prisoners, and the return of southern residents to their villages must come before any further political process.
Imposed Agreement Targets Lebanon's Unity
Earlier on Monday, Berri stated that the agreement is a form of fitna that threatens the unity of Lebanon and its people, adding, “When I describe this agreement as fitna, it is the highest level of political warning.”
He also said that they would not allow any street movement or reactions that could be exploited to drag the country into chaos and internal conflict. According to Berri, the main danger of the agreement is that it seeks to create internal divisions and turn the Lebanese against one another, something that would directly benefit Israel.
He said the issue should be addressed through legal and political channels, adding that ministers from the Amal Movement would attend cabinet sessions where the agreement is discussed and would clearly state their position.
“This agreement will not be implemented. It has no path to implementation by itself,” Berri said.
He added that the only real way to secure Lebanon’s rights and compel Israel to withdraw is through the course of US-Iran negotiations, arguing that only this framework can create a balance capable of forcing Israel to fulfill its commitments. Berri warned that any attempt to separate the Lebanese file from that process would prolong the occupation and give the enemy an opportunity to impose new conditions. (PW)