بين كرسي برّي الفارغ في بكركي ومدينة الأنفاق علي خليفة يكشف: قواعد "أمل" تغلي، هل بدأ العدّ العكسي؟

In this interview, Dr. Ali Khalifa, coordinator of the "Liberation" movement, asserted that Lebanon stands at a "crossroads" as the outlines of a new political phase begin to take shape. He emphasized that the beatification of Patriarch Elias Hoyek carries great national symbolism, as he is considered the founder of Greater Lebanon, who enshrined the rights of all Lebanese, particularly the Shia community. Khalifa argued that Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri's absence from the beatification ceremony was not a mere detail, but a political decision reflecting a consistent approach for the past three decades. He believes Berri's allegiance to Hezbollah prevented his attendance, adding that this absence demonstrates that Berri "has learned nothing in a hundred years," as he put it. Khalifa criticized the Speaker's performance, rejecting the description of him as a "statesman" and arguing that he has kept the Shia community out of the political arena. He further suggested that the discussion of Berri at the summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Joseph Aoun was an attempt to embarrass him. He also observed that Berri is "waiting at the crossroads" for the stalled progress of the initiative launched from Washington, noting discontent within the Amal Movement's base and asserting that Berri cannot offer a new political narrative to the Shia community due to his association with a phase that began on February 6th. He added that the end of Hezbollah's era would also mean the end of Speaker Berri's political role, because, as he described him, "he is a tool of a bygone era." He emphasized that the Shia duo has no right to demand that the state restore the situation to what it was before the "adventure" into which Lebanon was drawn. Regarding the situation in the South, Khalifa argued that the Shia duo is the last entity entitled to speak about liberating the South, saying, "If they are capable, let them go ahead and liberate it," pointing to the existence of "a second city built on tunnels beneath the South." He concluded by warning that the Lebanese state's inability to fulfill its duties could pave the way for Israel to resume the war, noting that all scenarios remain possible if this inability persists. Watch this episode of "Viewpoint" on "Spot Shot."