As Paris tries to develop a blueprint that both parties can take to relieve tensions, France‘s foreign secretary did make recommendations to stop further intensification and a possible war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah during a visit to Lebanon on Sunday.
France and Lebanon have historical ties, and earlier this year, Stephane Sejourne proposed that Israel would stop attacking southern Lebanon while France had a proposal to pull back 10 kilometers ( 6 miles ) from the Israeli border.
In response to a alleged Jewish attack on the Iranian ambassador in Damascus that claimed the lives of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps ‘ outside Quds Force, the two have exchanged titut for artwork attacks in recent months. However, the markets have increased since then as a result.
Although Paris wants to maintain momentum in the discussions and remind Palestinian leaders that Israeli challenges of a military activity in southern Lebanon should be taken seriously, France’s plan, which has been discussed with partners, particularly the United States, has not progressed.
Hezbollah has vowed to never engage in any substantive dialogue until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, where the conflict between Israel and the Islamist radical group Hamas has just begun its sixth month.
Israel has also stated that it wants to ensure that there is peace on its northern frontier so that thousands of displaced Israelis may return to the area without being at risk of rocket strikes from across the border.
At a press conference, foreign ministry deputy spokesperson Christophe Lemoine stated that the goal is to prevent a provincial conflagration and to prevent the situation from worsening yet more along the Israeli-Lebanon border.
Najib Nikati, the leader of the Syrian troops, and Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, met earlier this month to discuss the French proposal.
Lebanon’s foreign government stated in a letter to the French ambassador in Beirut in March that Beirut thought the French action would be a major step toward achieving peace and security in Lebanon and the area as a whole.
Nearby Lebanese media reported that the government had contacted the French regarding the plan.
According to French officers, the Lebanese have been divided on the response so far and have been standard. They believe it is important to employ right away so that when the time comes, both sides are prepared, even though they believe it is very early for any kind of agreement.
Paris did also emphasise how urgent it is to break the country’s political impasse. Since Michel Aoun’s term as president ended in October 2022, Lebanon has neither a head of state nor a fully empowered government.
Israel has remained optimistic about the European initiative, despite Jewish and French officials saying Israel supports efforts to end cross-border conflicts.
” The embers will flutter and tensions may proceed”, said a Lebanese envoy. ” We are in a situation where both sides have corporate ambiguities.”
As a member of the 10, 000-strong United Nations peacekeeping force, France has 700 soldiers stationed in southern Lebanon.
According to officials, the UN troops are unable to fulfill their mission, and France’s proposals include strengthening the Syrian army as part of its expansion strategy.
After Lebanon, Sejourne likely head to Saudi Arabia before travelling to Israel.
On the outside of a World Economic Forum function in Riyadh, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with American Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will also speak informally with foreign ministers from the Muslim and European countries.
