From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 4, 2023
French delegation heading to Israel in attempt to calm tensions along Lebanon border
Tal Schneider is a Political Correspondent at The Times of Israel
A French diplomatic delegation will arrive in Israel in the coming days to engage with Israeli and Lebanese officials to try and work on a solution to the ongoing cross-border fire as well as the wider Israel-Hamas war.
The delegation includes Alice Rufo, the defense policy director at the French Defense Ministry, and Frederic Mondoloni, the political director of the French Foreign Ministry. They are expected to discuss Gaza with Israeli officials, but will not enter the Strip. It is unclear whether they will continue from Israel to Beirut.
The French administration has vast leverage on Lebanese internal politics and may use its influence to work on tamping down the attacks on Israel from the northern border.
Israel’s agenda in the north up until now was to deter and contain the attacks, while planning on full implementation of the 2006 UNSC resolution 1701, which provides for the removal of Hezbollah forces between 5-16 km away.
