France says ‘important progress’ made on Lebanon ceasefire deal
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said efforts will continue in the coming hours to clinch a deal on a proposed 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“We have made important progress in the last few hours, and we will continue our efforts in the coming hours,” Barrot told reporters outside a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
“We are counting on both parties to accept it without delay, in order to protect civilian populations and allow for diplomatic negotiations to begin,” he added.
Earlier, we reported that Barrot told the UNSC that France is working with the US on the ceasefire deal, adding that he would go to Lebanon by the end of the week to work on it.
Israeli military strikes killed at least 72 people in Lebanon on Wednesday, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.
Israel’s attack on Lebanon ‘most dangerous’ moment in region for 50 years: Analyst
Rami Khouri, a distinguished fellow at the American University of Beirut, said “the stakes are very high” for the region amid Israel’s attack on Lebanon, which is the latest escalation of tensions that have existed for decades.
“This tension has been going on for 30, 40, 50 years because the root cause of it has never been resolved – the conflict between Palestine and Israel,” Khouri told Al Jazeera.
“This moment is the most dangerous one that I’ve experienced in my 50 years of covering the area as a journalist and analyst. That’s because of the chances of other big powers getting involved,” Khouri said.
“The United States is already involved. It is the major supplier of the weapons for Israel and the major protector of Israel at the UN and at international fora. The US has also sent huge amounts of military forces to the area to help Israel if it needs it,” he said.
“The danger now is the region as a whole being involved in fighting,” he added.
“So this is the big danger that a break out of a big war would not only cause immense suffering – and not resolve very much – but would also threaten the fundamental integrity of many of these countries.”
Joint call issued for ‘temporary ceasefire’ across Lebanon-Israel border
Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have issued a joint call with the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and several European Union countries for a 21-day “temporary ceasefire” in Lebanon.
In the joint statement, which was released on Thursday and also signed by the European Union, France, Germany, and Italy, the signatories say “the situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation.”
“It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety,” they said.
“Thus we call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement consistent with UNSCR 1701, and the implementation of UNSCR 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza,” they add.
“We call on all parties, including the Governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately… We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether.”
It all still hinges on Gaza. 21 days to get a ceasefire done there.
