French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne will push for negotiations to prevent further escalation and potential war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah during a visit to Lebanon on Sunday (28/4). This comes as Paris seeks to perfect a road map acceptable to both sides to ease tensions.
France has historical ties with Lebanon. Earlier this year Foreign Minister Sejourne presented an initiative proposing elite Hezbollah units withdraw 10 km from the Israeli border, while Israel would stop attacks in southern Lebanon.
The two have traded blows in recent months. But the exchange of attacks has escalated since Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel in response to a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which killed members of Iran’s revolutionary Quds Force Guard Corps abroad.
France’s proposals, which have been discussed with its allies, especially the United States, have not yet yielded results. But Paris wants to maintain momentum in the talks and stressed to Lebanese officials that Israel’s threat of military operations in southern Lebanon must be taken seriously.
Hezbollah emphasized that it would not hold any concrete discussions until there was a ceasefire in Gaza. The war between Israel and the Hamas militant group has entered its sixth month.
Israel also said it wants to ensure calm returns on its northern border so that thousands of Israeli refugees can return to the region without fear of rocket attacks from across the border. “The aim is to prevent regional fires and prevent the situation from deteriorating further on the border between Israel and Lebanon,” Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Christophe Lemoine said at a press conference.
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Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Nikati and Lebanese military chief Joseph Aoun met French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month. They discussed the French proposal.
In a letter addressed to the French embassy in Beirut in March, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry said Beirut believed the French initiative would be a significant step towards peace and security in Lebanon and the wider region. Local Lebanese media reported that the government had provided input to France regarding the proposal.
French officials say the response so far has been general and there is no consensus among the Lebanese public. While they think it’s too early to reach any agreement, they believe it’s important to get involved now so that when the time comes, both parties are ready.
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Paris will also underscore the importance of breaking the political deadlock in his country. Lebanon has had no head of state or Cabinet with full authority since Michel Aoun’s term as president ended in October 2022.
Israel remains wary of the French initiative, although Israeli and French officials say Israel supports efforts to ease cross-border tensions.
“The fire will burn and tensions will continue,” said a Lebanese diplomat. “We are in a situation of strategic ambiguity on both sides,” he continued.
France has 700 troops based in southern Lebanon as part of its 10,000-strong UN peacekeeping force. Officials say UN forces are unable to carry out their mandate and part of the French proposal is aimed at enhancing the mission by strengthening the Lebanese army.
After Lebanon, Sejourne will continue visiting Saudi Arabia before traveling to Israel. Arab and Western foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will hold informal talks on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh to discuss the Gaza war with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (CNA/Z-2)
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