Nabih Berri: Responding to Israel is “a dish to be eaten cold”

In an interview with the Lebanese newspaper Al-Jumhuriya, Berri considered that “the possibility of rolling into a large-scale war remains possible with the presence of (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, who wants such a war and is trying to push everyone into it,” noting that “on the other hand, the axis of resistance is still managing the battle in a thoughtful and wise manner.”

He pointed out that the Lebanese factions are limiting their strikes to Israeli military targets, even when there are civilian martyrs, adding: “The response that Israel has been waiting for days with tense nerves is inevitable, but the response or revenge is a dish that is eaten cold.”

Although the military escalation on the southern and Gaza fronts imposes itself at the top of the priorities at this stage, Berri stressed that he “separates the presidential elections file from the war.”

Berri pointed out that the smoke of the rising Israeli aggression should not cover up the presidential file, “but rather it is an additional incentive for us to expedite the holding of dialogue or consultation and then elect the president, because dialogue and election contribute to fortifying our internal front and strengthening national immunity in the face of challenges.”

“Based on this approach, I do not link the presidential entitlement to the war, but what I fear is that there are those who harbor such a link and refuse to respond to my initiative while waiting to see how the war will end and whether it will lead to the weakening of the other party,” he added, noting that “some are wasting their time, and worse, they are wasting opportunities for the country, if they are counting on the current battle to lead to the weakening of the Lebanese factions so that they can adjust the internal balance of power and extract political gains.”

Source: “Al-Jumhuriya”