'Israel is an absolute evil': Berri to US envoy, urging 1701 execution
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Lebanese Parliament speaker Berri urged the US to press "Israel" into upholding its commitments to the ceasefire agreement and UN resolution 1701.
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'Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus during their meeting at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain El-Tineh on Saturday (AFP)
"Israel is an absolute evil," the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, declared during a meeting with US envoy Morgan Ortagus, stressing that its continued occupation of Lebanese territories must be resisted and confronted.
Berri also lauded the Lebanese Army's role and deployment in southern Lebanese lands, as part of the ceasefire agreement.
During the meeting, Berri reminded Ortagus of the US administration's role in forcing "Israel" to fully implement the ceasefire agreement, given that it is part of the committee overlooking the implementation. He also noted the need for the Israeli regime to implement Resolution 1701, particularly the complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from Lebanese lands.
Berri received Ortagus and her accompanying delegation at the Second Presidency headquarters, in the presence of the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson. The meeting discussed the general situation in Lebanon, particularly the developments in the south, in light of the Israeli occupation’s continued violations of UN Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement.
Additionally, the Lebanese official discussed the overall situation in the country, particularly in the south, during his meeting with the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, and French General Guillaume Bonchamp, Deputy Head of the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee.
US meddling in Lebanon sparks popular protests, political uproar
Tensions flared in Lebanon on Friday after Morgan Ortagus, the US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East, made provocative remarks against Hezbollah, claiming that "Israel" had "defeated" the Resistance movement and insisting that it be excluded from the country’s next government.
Her statements, delivered from the Lebanese presidential palace after meeting with President Joseph Aoun, triggered public protests and widespread political condemnation.
Outraged by Ortagus’ remarks, Lebanese people rallied outside Beirut’s International Airport, denouncing what they viewed as blatant US meddling in Lebanon’s internal affairs. Some demonstrators also blocked roads in protest, though they were later cleared.
Speaking to reporters at Baabda Presidential Palace after meeting with President Joseph #Aoun, US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus didn't shy away from bluntly saying that the US "has set clear red lines that [#Hezbollah] won't be able to ... be a part of… pic.twitter.com/kpX5AWiksg
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