Lebanese parliament curse-laden debate: "We are not defending Iran!"

The parliamentary session in Beirut degenerated into a heated, profanity-laced verbal confrontation between Hezbollah lawmakers and their political rivals, against the backdrop of severe destruction and contacts with Israel. A member of parliament from the Change bloc attacked the framework agreement with Israel and called for not allowing Iran to negotiate on Lebanon's behalf.

The parliamentary session in Beirut has recently degenerated into a heated, profanity-laced verbal confrontation between lawmakers from the terrorist organization Hezbollah and their political rivals, against the backdrop of severe destruction and contacts with Israel. The explosion began when Hezbollah MP Ihab Hamadeh shouted at his opponents: "Go check what the Israelis said about Ali al-Taher, shame on you!" MP Waddah Sadek immediately retorted: "Go check who brought the Israelis into the country!" and was met with shouts from Hamadeh: "Go to hell... shut up!" MP Ziad Hawat from the "Lebanese Forces" party also intervened and told Hamadeh after he called them 'Israel's agents': "You brought Israel into the country. You destroyed the country, you destroyed the south... no one is afraid of you anymore." Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was forced to intervene and concluded in embarrassment: "What a shame." Alongside the shouting, sharp criticism was heard regarding the political negotiations and the framework agreement signed with Israel. MP Halima Kaakour from the Change bloc (the "Lana" party) harshly attacked the outline, calling it "shameful." "We are for the state's monopoly on weapons, and for the state to be the one that decides on war and peace," she said, "We are not defending Iran, we are defending ourselves: Iran must not negotiate in our name. We are conducting the negotiations. But is this how we negotiate? Is this a framework agreement we defend? An agreement that contradicts all values of justice and sovereignty and legitimizes the occupation." Kaakour added that the agreement deprived the residents of the south of justice and the possibility of receiving compensation. The confrontations reflect the deep political rift in Lebanon over the issue of Hezbollah's weapons and the defense of the state.