Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has reaffirmed his commitment to the ceasefire negotiations, emphasizing that the framework established with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein remains intact.
“What is written is written, and we are not ready to change even a single letter in UNSC Resolution 1701,” Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, reiterating that the U.S. mediator did not mention the enforcement of Resolution 1559 or replacing the existing UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon with multinational forces to support the Lebanese Army in its implementation.
As Lebanon’s official circles closely monitor Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's potential response to President Joe Biden's initiative for a ceasefire in southern Lebanon, Berri highlighted the importance of maintaining the terms agreed upon with Hochstein, which include a cessation of hostilities and the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the south as a precursor to the implementation of UN Resolution 1701.
Berri indicated that he had finalized all necessary points related to the ceasefire, stating, “We await him [Hochstein] to come to an agreement with Netanyahu on what we have accomplished together.”
The House speaker refuted any claims suggesting that amendments to the resolution had been proposed, urging that guarantees must be provided for its implementation within a mutually agreed timeframe.
"Lebanon is ready to commit to Resolution 1701 at any moment, starting now, if Hochstein reaches an agreement with Netanyahu on what we have achieved."