Berri closes the door on negotiations: No compromise on Lebanon’s constants, Israeli withdrawal first

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri renewed his commitment to Lebanon’s core principles regarding the current phase, stressing that the priority remains consolidating the ceasefire and ending the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory, while rejecting any interpretation of his recent positions as paving the way for a direct negotiating track with Israel.

Berri explained in remarks to Al-Akhbar newspaper that Lebanon’s main demand, “yesterday, today and tomorrow,” is the consolidation of the ceasefire agreement, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanese territory, and the return of residents to their villages and homes.

He stressed his continued rejection of any direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, maintaining his previous position on the “framework agreement,” which he had earlier described as ten times worse than the May 17 Agreement.

Berri affirmed that any statements interpreted as signaling flexibility or openness toward the current track relate only to efforts aimed at halting the attacks, securing an Israeli withdrawal, and ensuring the return of residents, and do not reflect any change in his political stance or in his refusal to turn the current phase into a gateway for direct political negotiations with Israel.

Regarding the track being led by the presidency, Berri expressed little optimism about the possibility of achieving positive results, considering that developments related to the “pilot areas” reinforce the concerns he had previously voiced.

He pointed out that any steps or field arrangements must remain within the framework of implementing the ceasefire, guaranteeing withdrawal, and ensuring the return of residents, far from any path that goes beyond what he described as Lebanon’s constants, which he has reaffirmed on more than one occasion.