Berri: Lebanon-Israel negotiations impossible while war rages in southern Lebanon
Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri says Lebanon-Israel negotiations cannot proceed until fighting stops after Israeli evacuation orders in southern villages.
Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that Lebanon-Israel negotiations are not possible while active hostilities continue in the country’s south.
Berri told the Lebanese daily An-Nahar, in remarks released by his office, that a ceasefire must be secured before any political track can be pursued.
His statement came as the Israeli military ordered residents of four villages near the declared security zone to evacuate, underscoring fragile conditions on the ground.
Berri: No Negotiations While War Continues
Berri made clear that stopping the fighting is the immediate priority and that negotiations without guarantees of an end to hostilities are unacceptable.
He stressed that any political process must be built on assurances that aggression will cease, framing a military halt as a prerequisite for diplomacy.
The speaker said an Israeli withdrawal from occupied positions is an essential condition before discussing any settlement.
Israeli Evacuation Order for Four Villages
The Israeli army issued a warning on Monday instructing residents of four villages outside its self-declared security zone to leave their homes immediately.
The order cited alleged violations of the ceasefire and signaled the prospect of further operations in areas where it accuses militant groups of activity.
The evacuation directive adds to mounting displacement concerns among civilians in communities along the border.
US Mediation and Recent Direct Talks
US-led mediation efforts have sought to create a framework for renewed Lebanon-Israel dialogue, but officials acknowledge major hurdles remain.
Last month saw rare direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli delegations, yet those sessions produced limited progress and have not translated into a durable cessation of violence.
Berri’s public rejection of negotiations while hostilities persist presents a new diplomatic obstacle for Washington and other intermediaries.
Hezbollah Accusations and Ceasefire Fragility
Israeli statements blame Hezbollah for breaching the ceasefire and assert preparations to respond to violations, increasing the risk of renewed clashes.
Hezbollah has frequently been cited in cross-border incidents that undermine fragile calm, complicating efforts to stabilize the front.
The pattern of mutual accusations and limited accountability for ceasefire breaches has left the truce vulnerable to rapid deterioration.
Conditions: Israeli Withdrawal as a Precondition
Beyond an immediate halt to fighting, Berri explicitly identified Israeli withdrawal as a core demand before discussing any settlement.
He framed withdrawal as a necessary step to restore sovereignty and create conditions in which political negotiations could be meaningful.
This stance narrows the available diplomatic options by setting a firm precondition that Israel and its backers have so far resisted accepting as unilateral.
Humanitarian Impact and Diplomatic Options
Civilians living near the border face renewed displacement, security risks, and the disruption of daily life as evacuation orders and military activity intensify.
Humanitarian agencies and regional actors are likely to be called on to respond, though access and security constraints could hamper relief efforts.
International mechanisms—including United Nations envoys and third-party mediators—may be the only practical channels to translate a cessation of hostilities into a workable political process.
The convergence of Israeli evacuation orders, accusations of ceasefire violations, and Berri’s insistence on withdrawal sets a high bar for any imminent Lebanon-Israel negotiations.
Unless parties agree to concrete, verifiable steps to stop the fighting and address territorial concerns, diplomatic efforts risk stalling while civilian suffering continues.
For now, the path to a negotiated settlement appears contingent on first securing a durable ceasefire and resolving the immediate humanitarian and security crises on the southern Lebanese front.