Israel wants freedom to strike Lebanon

14/11/2024 5:46

        Israeli officials are
        insisting on maintaining a capacity to strike Lebanon at any
        moment as part of conditions to secure a ceasefire with
        Iran-backed Hezbollah, France's foreign minister said on
        Wednesday.
        
        Speaking to a parliamentary hearing after holding talks in
        Israel last week in Jerusalem, Jean-Noel Barrot said it was a
        condition increasingly voiced among Israeli officials.
        
        "Today we hear in Israel voices calling for it to keep a
        capacity to strike at any moment or even enter Lebanon, as is
        the case with its neighbour Syria," said Barrot, who held talks
        with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and new
        Defence Minister Israel Katz last week.
        
        "That is not compatible with the sovereignty of a strong
        country," Barrot said, referring to broader efforts to help
        strengthen Lebanon's governance.
        
        Several diplomats said that it would be all but impossible
        to get Hezbollah or Lebanon to accept any proposal that included
        this demand.
        
        There was no immediate comment from Israel on the remarks.
        Its defence minister, Israel Katz, said earlier: "We will not
        allow any arrangement that does not include the achievement of
        the war's objectives - and above all Israel's right to enforce
        and act on its own against any terrorist activity."
        
        France, which has historical ties with Lebanon, has sought
        to play a role in trying to secure a ceasefire in the Middle
        Eastern country.
        
        It has worked with the United States to try to implement a
        temporary ceasefire, but those talks stalled at the end of
        September.
        
        Coordination between Paris and the outgoing U.S.
        administration to get a ceasefire has been more complicated
        since, with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein focused on his own
        proposals.
        
        Barrot said it made no sense for France to lead initiatives
        by itself on Lebanon given it needed the United States to
        convince Israel, just like it was not helpful for Washington to
        go it alone because it would "lack a fine appreciation of
        Lebanon's internal political dynamics," he said.