Aoun-Berri Rift Deepens Over Israel-Lebanon Framework

On July 5, tension after the Washington Israel-Lebanon framework had not subsided and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri were not communicating over the deal. Both still signaled two stabilizing lines: preserving civil peace and keeping the government functioning, including ministers aligned with Amal and Hezbollah. State Department releases confirm the United States, Israel and Lebanon signed the framework on June 26 to advance peace, Lebanese sovereignty and Hezbollah disarmament. Aoun defended the agreement while Berri, Amal and Hezbollah opposed it. For Israel, the split matters because a sovereign Lebanon restraining Hezbollah is the diplomatic path to safer northern communities.