Israel Rebuffs French Role in Lebanon

Latest Developments​

Israel rebuffed a French proposal on June 14 to revive U.S.-backed efforts to dampen spiraling tensions with Hezbollah.

A surge in rocket, guided-missile, and loitering-munition attacks by Hezbollah into Israel, and of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted killings of operatives from the Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist group, have stirred concern — including among G7 partners meeting in Italy — that a full-blown war could be imminent.

France, which has historic ties to Lebanon, sought earlier in the year to advance a plan that would calm the Israeli-Lebanese border, including through a consensual withdrawal of Hezbollah forces. Such proposals, while supported by Washington, have found little traction in Beirut.

Briefing reporters at the G7 summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country and the United States would set up two trilateral contact groups — one with Israel and the other with Lebanon — “to advance on the road map that we proposed.”

But Jerusalem was cool to the overture, given Paris’ quick turn against Israel in the early weeks of the Gaza war.

“As we fight a just war, defending our people, France has adopted hostile policies against Israel. In doing so, France ignores the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israeli children, women, and men,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement. “Israel will not be a party to the trilateral framework proposed by France.”

Expert Analysis​

“Israel has little reason to trust Macron on Lebanon, when his sympathies around Gaza flipped so quickly. Days after the October 7 atrocities committed by Hamas, the French president visited Jerusalem and said, ‘This fight against terrorism is obviously a matter of existence for Israel. But it’s a matter of existence for all of us.’ But barely a month later, he changed his tune by baselessly blaming Israel, rather than Hamas, for the deaths of innocents. Given the French investment — and vulnerability — in Beirut, Macron is liable to be even more pliable when it comes to Hezbollah.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“While France is a more reliable ally of Israel compared to many other countries within the European Union, trusting Paris to negotiate an acceptable solution on the Israeli-Lebanese border is a gamble that the Jewish state cannot afford. With elections in France approaching amid growing demands from the French left for a harsher approach towards Israel, the risk is evident.” ­­— Ben Cohen, FDD Senior Analyst and Rapid Response Manager

France Disputes Gallant Claims

In an official response to Gallant’s rejection of the French contact group proposal, the foreign ministry in Paris stated that “France has taken a clear line of denunciation and sanctions against Hamas, and takes an aggressive line in everything having to do with sanctions in the EU against Iran and its missile and drone project, and was a partner in the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors decision to advance a sanctions process against Iran’s nuclear program.” It added that France “will continue to fight to protect Israel’s interests on the northern border with all the relevant players.” In February, France proposed a three-step plan to resolve hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border. The proposal outlines a 10-day process that would start with a ceasefire and then require Hezbollah and other armed groups to retreat at least 10 kilometers north within three days, with the Lebanese army sending up to 15,000 troops to the border. By day 10, Lebanon and Israel would resume negotiations to delineate their disputed land border.