French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne is in the Lebanese capital Beirut for talks aimed at easing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. After meeting Lebanon’s influential Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, and the head of the Lebanese army, Joseph Aoun, Sejourne said there had been “a lot of progress” over the French proposals.

Beirut

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné's recent visit to Beirut marked a significant step towards easing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. During his stay, Séjourné engaged in discussions with Lebanon's Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a well-known ally of Hezbollah, and Joseph Aoun, the head of the Lebanese army. Séjourné reported that these talks brought "a lot of progress" in regard to the French proposals aimed at de-escalating the conflict.

The conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border has intensified, with daily exchanges of fire since October, following Hezbollah's engagement to alleviate pressure on Gaza. Séjourné emphasized the importance of restraint from the warring sides and introduced a road map, drafted in February, intended to guide both Lebanese and Israeli authorities towards the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701. This resolution, enacted to conclude the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, calls for a weapons- and fighters-free zone along the border.

Séjourné's proposal involves a plan to enhance the presence of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in southern Lebanon, where 700 French soldiers are already deployed as part of a 10,000-strong unit. This expansion aims at bolstering the Lebanese army and establishing a peaceful zone along the Lebanon-Israel border. Nonetheless, Hezbollah has declared it will not engage in discussions about the border violence until a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is achieved, while also threatening a broader response if Israel escalates its attacks.

The situation along the Lebanon-Israel front is intricately linked to the ongoing war in Gaza. As international efforts, including those by U.S. mediator Amos Hoshtin, continue to forge a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, there is hope that a cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel could soon follow, opening the door for negotiations. Séjourné's visit and the proposed French road map play a crucial role in these complex diplomatic efforts to bring about peace in the region.



French FM says ‘a lot of progress’ in Lebanon talks

France's foreign minister says he has a road map to de-escalate the conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border. There's been daily exchanges of fire since Hezbollah opened up a front to help relieve pressure on Gaza in October. Stéphane Séjourné stressed the need for the warring sides to exercise restraint. The objective of the road map that I proposed in February to the Lebanese and Israeli authorities is to achieve full implementation by all parties to the Security Council Resolution 1701. Séjourné visited the 700 French soldiers based in southern Lebanon as part of the 10,000 strong United Nations Peacekeeping Force. The road map that is being presented reportedly involves expanding the UN mission by strengthening the Lebanese army. It's based on a UN resolution which ended the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 and calls for a zone free of arms and fighters outside the state's control along the border. But Hezbollah has maintained it will not enter any concrete discussion on the cross-border violence until there is a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. All the while, its officials warn of a broader response if Israel widens its attacks. The group has already changed its posture in recent days. Its attacks have become more lethal. That's why Western nations are keeping diplomatic channels open to try to prevent a wider war. But the Lebanon-Israel front is very much linked to the war on Gaza. As pressure mounts on Israel and Hamas to reach a deal, a ceasefire there could lead to a cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel that would allow negotiations to begin. The U.S. mediator in this conflict, Amos Hoshtin, is in Israel and may be in the Lebanese capital soon.

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