Israel Excludes France From Lebanon Peace Talks Amid Rising Diplomatic Rift

Israel's ambassador to the United States declared that Israel does not want France involved in peace negotiations with Lebanon.

The remarks came after 17 countries, including France, called on Israel and Lebanon to seize the opportunity presented by ongoing peace talks.

Al Jazeera

France has strong historical ties to Lebanon and pressed for the Lebanese front to be included in the ceasefire brokered by the US with Iran.

The exclusion of France from the talks was described by Le Monde as a concerted Israeli effort to keep France out.

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli officials deemed Paris irrelevant to the negotiations.

The rift between Israel and France has deepened over the past weeks.

France has been a key player in Lebanon due to its historical mandate and long-standing ties.

Macron offered to host direct talks, but Israeli officials described French involvement as unwanted.

Al-Jazeera Net

France condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon, calling them intolerable.

The French Foreign Ministry denied the existence of any French plan to halt the war.

An expert said the European stance indicates France has been sidelined from the negotiating table.

The rift has played out domestically in France, with right-wing politicians criticizing Netanyahu.

Axios reported that France prepared a proposal to end the war including Lebanon recognizing Israel.

“France endorses direct Lebanese-Israeli negotiations and rejects targeting Beirut or civilian casualties, and it does not hide in its diplomatic messages warnings about Tel Aviv's plan in southern Lebanon”

An-Nahar

The proposal would redeploy the Lebanese army south of the Litani River in exchange for Israeli forces withdrawing.

UNIFIL would verify Hezbollah's disarmament south of the Litani.

The Lebanese government announced a decision to ban all Hezbollah military and security activities.

The party rejected the decision as surrender to international pressure.

Official Lebanese sources said Beirut continues to prepare to form a negotiating delegation.