Beirut: House Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday received Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain al-Tineh. The discussion reportedly touched on the general situation and the latest political and field developments in light of Israel’s continued aggression against Lebanon and its repercussions on farmers and the agricultural sector.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Minister Hani briefed Speaker Berri on the extent of the damage and losses inflicted on the agricultural sector and forested areas due to the ongoing Israeli aggression. The affected areas have reached approximately 22.5 percent, equivalent to 56,264 hectares, including damage to olive groves, fruit trees, tobacco cultivation, citrus and banana orchards, and protected crops.
Speaker Berri also met with the head of the Finance and Budget Parliamentary Committee, MP Ibrahim Kanaan, to discuss the general situation and legislative affairs. Berri later received a delegation from the “National Moderation” bloc, which included MPs Mohammed Suleiman, Ahmad Al-Khair, and Abdul Aziz Al-Samad, along with the bloc’s secretary, former MP Hadi Hobeish, and MP Ali Hassan Khalil, a member of the “Development and Liberation” parliamentary bloc.
The meeting addressed the latest political and field developments amid Israel’s continued aggression against Lebanon, as well as the displacement dossier and legislative affairs, particularly the general amnesty draft law. MP Abdul Aziz Al-Samad stated that the National Moderation Bloc emphasized the need to approve the General Amnesty Law, highlighting its humanitarian and national dimensions. He also stressed the importance of a joint committee session to ease tensions and ensure rights within the framework of law and justice.
The MP further reiterated the bloc’s rejection of ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the repeated violations of Lebanese sovereignty. He called for the international community to protect Lebanon and reaffirmed commitment to the Taif Agreement, emphasizing its role in ensuring national stability and coexistence. The importance of cooperation among political forces to address the country’s crises was underscored, prioritizing the interests of the Lebanese people.