Senior Lebanese officials reaffirmed their commitment to negotiations with Israel through the international committee tasked with overseeing the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, known as the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, following Hezbollah’s statement on Thursday in which the group told them it rejects any form of political negotiation.
Communication between Lebanon and Israel is limited to a United Nations-backed monitoring mechanism involving France and the US. The two sides meet separately under UN auspices but do not engage in direct talks.
Berri: No to normalization
While President Joseph Aoun underscored Lebanon’s adherence to this mechanism, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said there is no alternative to it. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam responded to Hezbollah by saying that decisions of war and peace rest solely with the state.
Berri told Asharq Al Awsat that normalization with Israel is out of the question.
“Anyone calling for normalization should know it is impossible,” he said.
“I remain firm in my position on the mechanism, which brings together all parties, Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and the United Nations. There is no objection to bringing in civilian specialists when needed, as happened during the demarcation of the Blue Line in 2000, when geological and mapping experts were involved.”
Berri added that Israel’s threats and airstrikes will not alter Lebanon’s stance.
On the electoral law, Berri said he has not yet received the draft. Once it reaches him, he will decide his position. The government had approved a draft law scrapping the six seats allocated to expatriates and allowing overseas voters to cast ballots in their place of residence, according to their electoral registration. Berri and Hezbollah oppose the changes.
Berri has insisted on implementing the current parliamentary election law, saying it remains technically and legally viable. He also questioned why some political actors are backtracking on previous positions “for maneuvers we all know are futile.” He said: “This law was once described by George Adwan (Lebanese Forces deputy leader) as his own. So what was valid in past elections is suddenly not valid today?”
Aoun: We are committed to the November agreement
The President reaffirmed “Lebanon’s commitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement reached in November 2024 under US and French sponsorship.”
Speaking during a meeting with a World Bank delegation, he said Israel had not complied.
“According to this deal, Israel was supposed to withdraw completely and fully from the South sixty days after the agreement, but it still occupies five hills and is escalating its attacks on Lebanon amidst increasing daily threats against the country and its people,” said Aoun.
Salam: Decisions of war and peace rest with the government
The Prime Minister said Lebanon is moving steadily toward reclaiming its natural role within the Arab region.
He voiced satisfaction at “Lebanon’s return to the Arabs and the Arabs’ return to Lebanon,” saying this renewed relationship forms “a foundation for national recovery in technology, the economy and security.”
Speaking at an event dedicated to technology and artificial intelligence, Salam recalled that the government has made a “clear decision” regarding the state’s monopoly over arms, stressing that the Lebanese Army’s plan to achieve this “is progressing according to well-defined stages.”
This plan is still in its first phase, Salam noted, alluding to the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River.
Responding to Hezbollah’s statement, Salam said that decisions of war and peace lie exclusively with the Lebanese government, which alone is responsible for protecting sovereignty and maintaining stability.
He described Israeli escalation as dangerous and a threat to regional security, saying the government is seeking Arab and international support to stop Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory and strengthen the state’s ability to assert full authority across its land.
On Lebanese-Syrian relations, Salam said the era of interference in Syria’s affairs has ended. Lebanon is committed to a policy of self-distancing and to mutual respect with all Arab states, he reaffirmed.
