(1 Jul 2024)
LEBANON PARLIAMENT CONFERENCE
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
LENGTH: 1:58
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beirut, Lebanon - 1 July 2024
1. News conference
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ashraf Rifi, member of Lebanese parliament:
"The escalation and threats have reached their highest level since Oct. 8, with increasing fears of the expansion of the ongoing war, which has so far cost us the lives of hundreds of Lebanese people and the complete destruction of thousands of housing units. Additionally, there are economic and environmental damages as a result of the daily Israeli attacks, along with the consequences of this escalation on Lebanon."
3. Photographer
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ashraf Rifi, member of Lebanese parliament:
"Out of a sense of national responsibility and our duty to express the position of those we represent among the Lebanese, who are categorically and decisively opposed to dragging Lebanon into a war that does not concern it."
5. Cameraman
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ashraf Rifi, member of Lebanese parliament:
"We further affirm the importance and necessity of implementing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 in its entirety by all parties, and to support the Lebanese army and security institutions in controlling the borders in the south, east, and north."
7. Camera operator
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ashraf Rifi, member of Lebanese parliament:
"We affirm that avoiding a broader war than the one currently taking place is still possible. This requires the caretaker government to assume its responsibilities, which it has neglected since the first day of the war, by immediately undertaking the following actions. First, put an end to all military activities happening outside the framework of the Lebanese state and its institutions that originate from Lebanese territory, regardless of their source. Second, declare a state of emergency in the south and hand over control to the Lebanese army. Third, assign the Lebanese army with confronting any attacks on Lebanese territory."
9. Exterior of parliament building
10. Lebanese flag on top of parliament building
STORYLINE:
A group of Lebanese lawmakers warned on Monday that the people do not want to see Lebanon getting dragged "into a war that does not concern it," speaking as tensions at the Lebanon-Israel border remain high.
"The escalation and threats have reached their highest level since Oct. 8, with increasing fears of the expansion of the ongoing war, which has so far cost us the lives of hundreds of Lebanese people," said lawmaker Ashraf Rifi.
The statement comes as global mediators have been pressing to keep stepped-up cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militants from spiraling into a wider Middle East war that the world has feared for months.
Rifi delivered the statement on behalf of a group of allied parliamentarians from different opposition groups at news conference held in the Parliament.
He said thousands of homes have been completely destroyed in Lebanon, adding that the fighting has also had economic and environmental implications.
Rifi and the other legislators who spoke are notably critical of Hezbollah and their military wing, which they say undermines the Lebanese state.
The Hezbollah-led coalition holds 61 seats in the 128-member parliament.
The legislators on Monday also called for the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Under the resolution, Hezbollah should not have military presence in the border region.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...