French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Élysée Palace on Tuesday, issuing a stern call to reinforce the precarious ceasefire currently holding between Lebanon and Israel. Macron emphasized that the immediate priority is to consolidate the truce through rigorous negotiation, warning that the region cannot afford a return to open hostilities. “We must give time for negotiations and not let the war begin again,” Macron stated, framing the current moment as a critical window for diplomatic stabilization.
The path to a durable peace, according to the French leader, rests on two primary pillars: the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory and the disarmament of Hezbollah. Prime Minister Salam echoed this commitment to a diplomatic resolution, characterizing the pursuit of direct negotiations not as a sign of weakness, but as a “responsible act.” However, Salam remained firm that lasting stability is impossible without the restoration of Lebanon’s territorial integrity.
The urgency of these talks is underscored by the continued volatility on the ground. The meeting in Paris followed a weekend incident in which UNIFIL peacekeepers came under fire, resulting in the death of a French soldier. As Lebanese and Israeli delegations prepare to meet in Washington later this week, the international community is watching to see if these diplomatic frameworks can withstand the friction of a deeply entrenched conflict.
With reporting from InfoMoney.
Source · InfoMoney
