Lebanon's Berri slams Israeli troops in south

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s parliament speaker warned on Tuesday ​that Israeli forces occupying parts of the country's south would ​face resistance if they fail to withdraw, signalling a risk of renewed confrontation ahead of US-mediated talks this week. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah mediated by Washington has largely held since last Thursday, but Israeli forces remain deployed in a belt of Lebanese land 5-10 km deep along the entire border.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanon's most senior Shi'ite statesman and a Hezbollah ally, told Lebanese ⁠newspaper al Joumhouria that Lebanon could not tolerate losing a metre of land. If Israel 'maintains its occupation, whether of areas, positions, or by drawing yellow lines, it will smell the scent of resistance every day,' said Berri, leader of the Amal Movement. 'If they insist on remaining, they will face resistance and our history bears witness to that,' Berri said. Berri, in his comments to Al Joumhouria, reiterated his view that there was no need for direct talks with ⁠Israel, noting that he had ​been a party to several rounds of indirect negotiations with Israel over the years.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's prime minister and French ​President Emmanuel Macron will discuss on Tuesday how to strengthen the country's hand in possible direct negotiations with Israel in the United States later this week, as Beirut turns to a trusted European ally. Israeli troops occupy territory deep in the south, aiming to create a ⁠buffer zone to shield northern Israel from Hezbollah attack, while the group says it maintains the 'right to resist' Israeli occupation.
'France's role is not to insert itself between the parties in discussions that are, by nature, bilateral and direct,' a French presidency official said ahead of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's meeting with ​Macron. 'France is one of ⁠the countries capable of playing a very concrete role in strengthening the Lebanese ​government's hand and supporting its action in practical ‌terms.'
Israel's ambassador to Washington said last week that France should be excluded from any talks, describing Paris as having 'no positive influence.' The US, while ‌maintaining contact with France on the issue, has also sought to marginalise its role. European and Lebanese diplomats ​say they fear that if direct negotiations begin, Lebanon's government could be too weak to resist unrealistic demands, ​potentially fuelling ⁠domestic tensions given Hezbollah's refusal to negotiate with Israel. — Reuters