The outlines of a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah on the border with Lebanon are gradually taking shape, at the initiative of Paris and Washington. France, which favors separating the Lebanese issue from the situation in the Gaza Strip, has formed a proposal calling for de-escalation measures to be put in place without delay. The failure of Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement on a ceasefire has complicated these efforts. In Lebanon, Hezbollah, a key player in the terms and conditions of the agreement, has made the opening of negotiations conditional on an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
The plan concocted by the French was handed over to the Lebanese authorities on Tuesday, February 6, by Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné. It had been discussed earlier with Israeli authorities during a visit by Frédéric Mondoloni and Alice Rufo, senior representatives of the French foreign affairs and defense ministries. The proposal includes various technical and operational measures to contribute to gradual de-escalation in the region. Hezbollah, which is said to have been approached about the French project, said it would not accept the plan until a ceasefire was agreed upon for the Gaza Strip. "We need to continue the work of persuasion," a diplomatic source told Le Monde.
"Hezbollah is not giving any answers or assurances. But the second there is a ceasefire or a suspension of operations in the Gaza Strip, we can begin to picture the first steps in Lebanon," said Elias Bou Saab, the chief Lebanese negotiator. The message was passed on to Amos Hochstein, the special envoy of US President Joe Biden, who is leading the mediation to find a new modus vivendi around the border between Lebanon and Israel. In 2022, he succeeded in sealing an agreement to mark out their maritime border. "The French have their ideas, the Americans have others. They'll come together at some point," said the Lebanese negotiator.
The two initiatives agree on a general framework. They want to achieve full implementation of Resolution 1701 in return for a settlement on the land border. This resolution, passed by the United Nations Security Council at the end of the 2006 war, stipulates that only the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) should be deployed in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said he is open to negotiations on the border, seeing a "historic opportunity" to liberate territories disputed since the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. "This is going to be a difficult case. We must not place too many expectations on it and start with revocable measures, on which to build diplomatic momentum," said Heiko Wimmen of the International Crisis Group (ICG).
You have 60% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.