Summary: The Lebanese parliament began its first session since last March on Wednesday, discussing an agenda comprising 44 proposals and draft laws, most notably the abolition of the death penalty, whose implementation is suspended, and granting a general amnesty with an exceptional reduction of some sentences. For years, the parliament has been trying to pass a general amnesty law, mainly aimed at alleviating prison overcrowding, but has not reached consensus due to sectarian and political divisions over the beneficiaries.

Lebanon and Israel agreed during a new round of talks in Rome that concluded on Wednesday to complete the structure of pilot areas and start implementing them within days, in application of a framework agreement between the two sides, according to a statement by the US embassy in Beirut. The embassy quoted a US official as saying, 'We agreed on a structure and general principles for the mechanism of the pilot areas, to be completed and implementation started within days,' adding that the two sides will also begin 'expanded technical talks, which will focus on implementing all provisions of the tripartite framework agreement' that was concluded last June.

Parliament session

On the other hand, the Lebanese parliament began its plenary session on Wednesday, which is supposed to last two days (Wednesday and Thursday), to study several bills and proposals, the most prominent of which concerns the approval of a general amnesty, sparking controversy in Lebanon. However, the opening session was quickly suspended due to a dispute inside parliament between deputies from the Development and Liberation bloc (Amal Movement) and a number of change deputies and deputies from the Kataeb Party, over a vote on a draft law on contractors' benefit from the retirement system. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri then adjourned the session for 10 minutes to cool the tense atmosphere. The session then resumed and passed the law aimed at subjecting contractors in the Ministry of Information to the retirement system, after 61 deputies voted in favor, while 30 opposed by acclamation.

General amnesty law

On the other hand, after the end of the civil war (1975-1990), the parliament passed a general amnesty law for crimes committed during it, without any accountability or genuine reconciliation between the warring parties or achieving justice for the victims and their families. The session on Wednesday began with a discussion of the agenda comprising 44 proposals and draft laws, most notably the abolition of the death penalty, whose implementation is suspended, and granting a general amnesty with an exceptional reduction of some sentences. For years, the parliament has been trying to pass a general amnesty law, mainly aimed at alleviating prison overcrowding, but has not reached consensus due to sectarian and political divisions over the beneficiaries. The general amnesty is a demand of the families of the so-called 'Islamist detainees,' most of whom are from the city of Tripoli (north), and are accused of various crimes including fighting the Lebanese army, assaulting it, and carrying out bombings. It is also demanded by families of thousands of detainees and wanted individuals from the Baalbek and Hermel areas (east), most of whom are accused of drug crimes, car theft, and cannabis cultivation.

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It is also a demand of hundreds of families from southern Lebanon, whose members fled with their families to Israel after its forces withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, fearing reprisals, especially from Hezbollah supporters. Most of these joined what was known as the 'South Lebanon Army,' supported by Israel. The draft laws to be studied by the parliament include the abolition of the death penalty, which was last implemented in 2004. The continued application of the death penalty hinders Lebanon's ability to extradite wanted individuals who have fled the country to states that have abolished it. This is the first legislative session held by parliament since it postponed in March last year the date of the legislative elections, which were scheduled for May 2026 for a two-year term, amid the war between Hezbollah and Israel.