Beirut, October 6 (Petra) – Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday received a memo signed by 86 lawmakers calling for the continued presence of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and a review of UN Security Council Resolution 2790, warning that the force's withdrawal could create a security "vacuum." Berri met with a delegation of MPs led by MP Melhem Khalaf, who said after the meeting that the memo, signed by 86 lawmakers, reflects a "qualified majority" in support of UNIFIL and calls for reconsideration of Resolution 2790.

Khalaf called for maintaining UNIFIL's presence in southern Lebanon as a "protective UN umbrella," noting that implementation of Resolution 2790 involves interconnected obligations, including verifying an Israeli withdrawal, transferring UNIFIL positions to the Lebanese Army and restoring state authority throughout Lebanese territory.

He said UNIFIL currently operates 33 positions along the Blue Line, questioning how these positions could be handed over to the Lebanese state while areas remain under occupation.

He described implementation of the resolution under the current circumstances as impossible.

Khalaf warned that a UNIFIL withdrawal could expose southern Lebanon to serious risks, foremost among them a power vacuum.

He said the departure of the international force could effectively entrench the occupation without strengthening the authority of the Lebanese state.

He argued that withdrawing UNIFIL would weaken, rather than reinforce, the Lebanese state's presence and could undermine stability.

He highlighted the force's role in preventing and addressing friction between the Lebanese and Israeli armies, citing incidents in Zoutar and Deir Mimas and questioned which third party could perform that role if UNIFIL were to withdraw.

Khalaf reaffirmed the lawmakers’ commitment to UNIFIL, citing UN Security Council Resolutions 425, 1701 and 2790 and called for the international force to remain in place or for any alternative military force to operate under a UN mandate.

//Petra// AK