By France delivers proposal to Lebanon aimed at ending hostilities with Israel
Paris has delivered a written proposal to Beirut aimed at ending hostilities with Israel, Reuters reported, citing the document.
The French initiative particularly calls for fighters from Hezbollah’s armed wing to withdraw ten kilometers from the border. The plan’s goal is to prevent a conflict “that risks spiraling out of control” and enforce “a potential ceasefire.” It ultimately envisions Israeli-Lebanese negotiations on delineation of the land border between the two countries.
Military activities in southern Lebanon have been going on in parallel to Israel’s operation in the Gaza Strip, fueling concern of an all-out confrontation in the Middle East, the news agency noted.
Hezbollah rejects formally negotiating a de-escalation until the war in Gaza ends, a position reiterated by a Hezbollah politician in response to questions for this story. While some details of similar mediation efforts by U.S. Middle East envoy Amos Hochstein have been circulating in recent weeks, the full details of the French written proposal delivered to Lebanon have not previously been reported. The three-step plan envisages a 10-day process of de-escalation ending with the border negotiations.
One French diplomatic source said the proposal had been put to the governments of Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah. France has historical ties with Lebanon. It has 20,000 citizens in the country and some 800 troops as part of a U.N. peacekeeping force. “We made proposals. We are in contact with the Americans and it’s important that we bring together all initiatives and build peace,” Sejourné told a news conference on Monday.
The plan proposes Lebanese armed groups and Israel would cease military operations against each other, including Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.
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