Berri not notified of Ortagus visit, says US hasn't done enough to stop Israeli violations
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has only heard about U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus' visit to Lebanon from media reports.
Berri told local al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Tuesday, that he hasn't been formally informed that Ortagus would visit Lebanon next week and that he has not seen any tangible steps from the U.S. regarding the Israeli violations of the November ceasefire.
Israel has continued to launch near-daily airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon and sometimes in Beirut’s suburbs despite a November 27 truce that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah including two months of full-blown war.
Under the terms of the ceasefire deal, the only armed bodies in southern Lebanon are meant to be U.N. peacekeepers and Lebanon's army, though Israel has retained its forces in five areas it has declared strategic.
"We are committed to the ceasefire," Berri said, urging the U.S. to compel Israel to stop its attacks.
Al-Akhbar newspaper had earlier reported that the Lebanese presidency was informed of a postponement of a visit by Ortagus from May to June and that the U.S. diplomat would carry with her a list of U.S. conditions for Israel's complete withdrawal from south Lebanon and a halt of its attacks on the country and would pressure Lebanon to consider joining peace accords with Israel.
Ortagus said last week that Lebanon still has "more" to do in disarming Hezbollah across the country.
Source: Naharnet
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