Lebanon’s parliament Speaker Nabih Berri revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that he is carrying out “serious efforts” with international parties, including the United States, to end the latest Israeli escalation against Lebanon.
The next 24 hours will be “decisive” in whether the efforts to reach a political solution will succeed or fail, he stressed.
He said he is holding intense contacts in complete coordination with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who is currently in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Influential international parties are also involved in the contacts.
Berri hoped the efforts will succeed “because the only alternative is war and more tragedy.”
Asked about whether Hezbollah would agree to the principle of separating the Lebanese front from Gaza, he replied: “The efforts are focused on not separating these two files.”
He also reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to its principles.
The solution focuses on the agreement previously reached with US special envoy Amos Hochstein before the war on Gaza broke out, Berri explained.
This is the only available and viable solution at hand, he declared without elaborating on its details.
At least 600 Lebanese people have been killed and 2,000 wounded since Monday when Israel launched an intense air raid campaign against what it says are Hezbollah targets.
