Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri accused Israel of seeking to drag Lebanon into political negotiations aimed at normalizing relations between the two countries, insisting that Beirut has no intention of engaging in such talks.

"Israel aims to lure us into political negotiations leading to normalization, but this issue is out of question for us," Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat. "We have a ceasefire agreement that enjoys international and Arab support, as well as backing from the United Nations. We are implementing and adhering to it to the letter, while Israel is the one obstructing its execution and trying to circumvent it."

Berri highlighted the Lebanese army's readiness to complete its deployment south of the Litani River, but said Israel's refusal to withdraw from several positions has prevented the military from extending its presence to the border with the support of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

He also defended Hezbollah, asserting that the group has complied with the agreement, pulled back from south of the Litani, and refrained from firing a single shot over the past six months despite Israel's continued violations.

"The party has opted for restraint, refraining from responding to Israel's breaches. It is standing behind the Lebanese state as it implements the agreement and upholds the ceasefire."

Berri further accused Israel of failing to uphold its commitments under the U.S.-brokered agreement, which he said called for Israeli withdrawal, the Lebanese army's deployment, and the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.

"The agreement that the United States pledged to implement stipulates Israel's withdrawal, the army’s deployment, and the release of Lebanese prisoners. However, Israel refuses to withdraw and continues its aggressions, the most recent being what happened in the past few hours, under the flimsy pretext of rockets being fired at the Metula settlement," he said.

Berri rejected a proposal suggesting the Lebanese negotiation team be composed of both military and civilian members with diplomatic status to address the release of prisoners, Israel's withdrawal, and the demarcation of the Lebanese-Israeli border. The proposal is based on the 1949 Armistice Agreement between the two countries and would cover contested points along the Blue Line, which Lebanon had previously raised reservations about.

"Such a proposal is not open for discussion because accepting it would effectively undermine the ceasefire agreement, which must be implemented under UNIFIL's supervision and with oversight from the 'Quintet Committee,'" he said.