Lebanese parliament swearing match: "We are not defending Iran!"

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

A parliamentary session in Beirut has recently descended into a heated, profanity-laden verbal clash between lawmakers from the Hezbollah terrorist organization 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 slammed 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 awkwardly: "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 ("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 the ones negotiating. 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 denied the residents of the south justice and the possibility of receiving compensation. The clashes reflect the deep political rift in Lebanon over the issue of Hezbollah's weapons and the defense of the state.