Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said that Israel halting its attacks and withdrawing from Lebanese territory was the key to regional stability.
Berri received U.S. Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa and Joseph Clearfield, head of the special military coordination group in Lebanon. The meeting addressed conditions on the ground in southern Lebanon, the negotiation process, verification of Israel’s withdrawal and the “pilot zones” designated for the deployment of the Lebanese army.
Berri calls for Israel’s withdrawal
According to a statement from Berri’s office, the mechanism to be implemented in the pilot zones was also discussed during the meeting.
Berri said Israel was continuing its violations and attacks against Lebanon, adding that villages had been destroyed, agricultural land damaged, forested areas burned and historic sites targeted.
Berri said, “The key to stability lies in forcing Israel to halt its war and withdraw to the international borders.”
Lebanon-Israel negotiations to continue
Speaking after the meeting, U.S. Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa described the atmosphere surrounding the negotiations as positive. Issa announced that talks between Lebanon and Israel would continue, but said the date of the next round had not yet been set.
Issa said the expansion of the current pilot zones would be considered after those areas had been evaluated. He also said discussions were continuing on which countries would participate in the monitoring mechanism.
Withdrawal provision in framework document
The framework document signed between Israel and Lebanon on June 26 calls for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.
However, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said the Israeli army would not withdraw from Lebanon. The U.S. State Department said Israel’s maintaining a permanent military presence in southern Lebanon was inconsistent with its obligations under the framework agreement and was not in the interest of peace.
