Lebanese official reaffirms that "the solution lies in negotiation," while Israel constructs new earthen barriers in the south

Beirut - Mansour Shaaban: The Israeli army constructed an earth berm at the “Deir Mimas – Burj al-Muluk – Kfar Kila” triangle in southern Lebanon, approximately 150 meters from inhabited homes in the town of Burj al-Muluk. It also built another berm at the “Deir Mimas – Burj al-Muluk – Hawra” triangle, and carried out a major explosion in the town of Zoutar al-Sharqiyya, the echo of which was strongly felt in most southern towns.

Additionally, an Israeli armed force advanced toward “Tell al-Sawwan” in the town of Mevdim, within the Blue Line, and stationed itself in one of the area’s residences. Israeli Apache helicopters flew over the eastern sector, conducting extensive sweeps with heavy weapons, artillery shelling of Bani Hayan, bulldozing in the town, and smoke rising from the clearing and burning. Meanwhile, warplanes raided the town of Mansouri and the Wadi Hassan area southeast of Sidon. Drones flew at low altitudes over the airspace of Baalbek city and surrounding villages.

This persistent daily field situation is accompanied by officials’ communications and official and popular meetings. Yesterday, former Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s responses to his well-wishers on the occasion of the Prophet’s birthday in Tripoli stood out. He stated that “the solution remains in continuing negotiations to end the Israeli occupation and return the occupied south to the fold of the state, and that all parties must be convinced that only the state is capable of protecting Lebanon and its people, and that any other solutions or side options will only complicate the problem and will not lead to the desired outcomes.”

For his part, MP Hassan Mourad, during a ceremony for the graduation of students at the Lebanese International University in Tripoli, emphasized the necessity of “adhering to and fully implementing the Taif Agreement,” noting that “the Taif Agreement is not merely a settlement that ended the war, but a project for building a modern state based on balanced development, institutions, decentralization, and a state of citizenship.”

He called for “implementing extended administrative decentralization as stipulated by the Taif Agreement,” pointing out that it “does not mean dividing Lebanon, but rather strengthening the state, improving its administration, and achieving balanced development and growth, while preserving Lebanon as a unified land, people, and institutions.” Mourad affirmed Lebanon’s right to protect its land and sovereignty, calling for “confronting the occupation and aggressions through political, diplomatic, and legal means, while simultaneously holding the state accountable for its responsibilities toward affected citizens, not compromising on the elements of its strength, and working to release its prisoners.”

For his part, MP Ashraf Rifi said in a statement that the logic of “he who fights is the one who negotiates, and has no place in a sovereign state” has no validity, stressing that “Lebanon is not a battlefield nor a bargaining chip for anyone.”