Beirut – Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Saturday that Lebanon will not accept normalization with Israel. “It is simply not an option,” Berri told the Lebanese daily Asharq al‑Awsat, according to Xinhua.
He called for open, indirect talks that involve all relevant parties – Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and the United Nations. Berri added that civilian specialists, like the geologists who mapped the Blue Line back in 2000, can support the process.
“Israel’s threats and airstrikes won’t change our position,” Berri stressed. He added that a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place since November 27, 2024, but Israeli forces still strike in Lebanon, citing Hezbollah attacks. On Saturday, three Israeli airstrikes hit vehicles in eastern and southern Lebanon, killing three people and wounding 11, the National News Agency reported.
In the same voice, Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny said Lebanon’s top priority is rebuilding post‑war damage, even as Israeli strikes keep hitting construction sites. Rasamny told the National News Agency that the government has mapped all damage and outlined a clear reconstruction plan. Total losses from the conflict may exceed US$11 billion.
Lebanon is waiting for a US$250 million World Bank loan to kick‑off repairs of key infrastructure. “It might not be enough, but it’s a first step,” Rasamny said. The loan will help rebuild roads, bridges, and public facilities while the country works to finish the war‑damaged work.
Source: ianslive
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