Lebanese political forces appear to be mobilising to block a newly signed framework agreement with Israel , with Speaker Nabih Berri leading efforts to build a cross-party front aimed at toppling the deal through institutional channels.
Since the agreement was signed in Washington on 26 June, intensified consultations at Berri’s Ain al-Tineh headquarters have focused on forming an opposition bloc under the banner of “rejecting strife” in an attempt at preventing any slide towards internal conflict. It also appears to seek the reinforcement of support for the Lebanese army amid mounting pressure on its commander, General Rodolphe Haykal.
Berri and Hezbollah have rejected the agreement outright , but are seeking to overturn it politically rather than through street mobilisation or government withdrawal.
According to sources cited by The New Arab , they are also attempting to capitalise on broader unease across the political spectrum in the country, including among parties opposed to Hezbollah’s disarmament, over provisions seen as infringing on national sovereignty.
Following talks with Berri, Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil said the two sides agreed on “protecting the country by safeguarding the symbol of national unity, which is the military institution”. He added that internal unity remains the priority “through which we prevent conflict”.
The army has emerged as a central force in Lebanon’s political landscape, with multiple figures warning against dragging it into confrontation with the public. MP Jihad al-Samad cautioned that the feared scenario is one where “the army is pushed into confronting the people”, stressing reliance on the military and its leadership.
In parallel, Berri is seeking to form a dual force: opposition to the agreement and support for the army commander, who is reportedly facing internal and external pressure, including calls for his removal.
At the same time, President Joseph Aoun remains steadfast in his support for the agreement, with official sources insisting it entails no concessions of Lebanese rights and is being advanced in coordination with the United States, including arrangements related to a “ pilot zones ” - areas where the Lebanese army would become the sole armed force on the ground.
The agreement’s fate is therefore likely to hinge on the cabinet, where it must secure two-thirds approval to become binding. Berri and Hezbollah lack the numbers to block it alone, meaning the decision from centrist and independent ministers will prove decisive.
Legally, while the agreement has been signed, it remains non-binding without cabinet approval. Legal expert Najib Farhat noted that although labelled a “framework”, the deal includes security annexes and provisions limiting recourse to international legal avenues. In other words, it requires full government endorsement.
He added that if the agreement is obstructed domestically, it could theoretically be escalated to the UN Security Council under Chapter VII, as occurred with the tribunal into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hari ri.