Lebanese top lawmaker vows to block proposed Israel agreement

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has pledged to lead political opposition to a proposed agreement with Israel, saying he will seek to block its ratification in parliament.

Berri said he is working to prevent political tensions from escalating into broader unrest, Elnashra news portal writes.

"I am trying to prevent an escalation of discontent that could turn into an internal conflict threatening civil peace," he said.

Berri announced plans to unite opponents of the proposed agreement into a broad national bloc capable of preventing its approval by parliament.

"Those who drafted this document will have to deal with me and a very large number of lawmakers," he warned.

The speaker said he remains committed to keeping the political dispute within constitutional channels and avoiding street protests calling for the overthrow of the Lebanese government.

According to Berri, he urged Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to withdraw the proposed agreement after Salam called to thank him for helping prevent unrest in Beirut on June 26 involving supporters of the Hezbollah movement.

Berri, who also heads the Amal Movement, recalled that Lebanon's parliament rejected the May 17, 1983 agreement with Israel in 1984, describing it as an "oppressive treaty."

He argued that the current proposal is "ten times worse," claiming that its purpose is "to provoke internal strife."

By Vafa Guliyeva