BEIRUT, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has said the recent U.S.-Lebanese presidential meeting should be judged by "results on the ground" rather than its optics, noting that a lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawals have yet to materialize.
"The important thing now is the results on the ground, not merely the way the summit appeared," Berri told Lebanese Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.
He called Israel's recent withdrawal from the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah inadequate, adding that "criminal demolition operations" and attacks near occupied villages were continuing.
Berri reiterated that he would support tangible achievements, which have "not happened yet."
U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met in Washington on Tuesday to advance a U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces began withdrawing from parts of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah on Tuesday, marking the first implementation of the "pilot areas" arrangement under the framework agreement. The Lebanese army moved in, but said Israeli forces had opened fire near its units, warning the incident could hinder deployment.■
