Lebanon’s Berri: 'Internal' Hurdles Are Obstructing Govt Formation

File photo. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri during a visit to Lebanon's President (NNA)
File photo. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri during a visit to Lebanon's President (NNA)
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Lebanon’s Berri: 'Internal' Hurdles Are Obstructing Govt Formation

File photo. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri during a visit to Lebanon's President (NNA)
File photo. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri during a visit to Lebanon's President (NNA)

Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri broke his silence Monday by indirectly holding President Michel Aoun responsible for the delay in forming a new government by demanding a blocking third.

"Following the incidents in Tripoli and the statement of the spiritual leaders who called to rescue the country and the Lebanese starting with the formation of a government of specialists, we are keen to clarify to the public opinion that the obstacle to forming a government is not external but internal," Berri said in a statement.

Within this context, he underlined that nobody was entitled to the "blocking third."

The speaker stressed that he would not lose hope and that he would continue his government formation efforts.

Aoun’s media office was quick to respond to Berri’s statements, denying the accusations.

“Political and media sources insist on promoting that the President is demanding the “blocking third” in the upcoming government, which led to delaying its formation, despite the statements and stances which confirm the invalidity of such allegations, which were issued by the Presidential Palace on different dates, last of which was on the 22nd of last January.”

The office also said that Aoun, who had never asked for the blocking third, is keen to exercise his constitutional rights in naming Ministers of the Government who are skilled and competent.



Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will likely have a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to release more Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian group. 

Netanyahu said 50 hostages were still being held captive by Hamas. Of that figure, he said, only 20 are believed to be alive. 

"I want to take them all out. We now have a deal that supposedly will get half of the living and half of the dead out," Netanyahu said in an interview on Newsmax show "The Record with Greta Van Susteren" that aired on Thursday. 

"And so we'll have 10 living left and about 12 deceased hostages, but I'll get them out, too. I hope we can complete it in a few days." 

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's retaliation has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says, and reduced much of Gaza to rubble. 

The two sides have had two ceasefires - one in November 2023 and another in January 2025- since the fighting started. 

Netanyahu said Israel and Hamas will likely have a 60-day ceasefire, which the two sides could use to try to end the conflict. 

Hamas said on Wednesday there were several sticking points in the ongoing ceasefire talks including the flow of aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and "genuine guarantees for a permanent ceasefire." 

Netanyahu's interview with Newsmax comes as he wraps his third visit to Washington since President Donald Trump took office in January. 

Speaking of Trump, the Israeli leader said his country has never had "such a friend, such a support of Israel, the Jewish state in the White House." 

Last month, the US joined Israel in striking Iran, a move that Trump has said "obliterated" three of Iran's nuclear sites. 

When asked about a damage assessment, Netanyahu said, "Within months, they could have produced atomic bombs."