French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement to create a “tripartite” structure involving France, the United States and Israel to manage tensions along the border between Lebanon and Israel has sparked a debate between the Israeli defense and foreign ministries.
The dispute began on Friday when Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant expressed his rejection of Israel’s participation in a “tripartite framework” to resolve the situation on the border with Lebanon.
At the “X” platform, “while Israel is waging the most just war in its history, France has shown hostility and hostility against us, blatantly ignoring the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against children and women just because they are Jews,” he said.
He went on to say: “If France participates on the northern border, we will not be partners in the group to resolve the security situation.”
On the other hand, the press reportedThe Times of IsraelIsraeli Foreign Ministry diplomats said they rejected Gallant’s attack on France.
The diplomats said in a statement: “Regardless of the differences between Tel Aviv and Paris, we reject Defense Minister Gallant’s attack on France, saying the statements against France are false and inappropriate.”
The statement pointed out, “Since the start of the war, France has taken a clear stance by condemning (Hamas) and imposing economic sanctions on it, and taking a firm stance on sanctions in the European Union against Iran and its missile and drone program.”
“Paris was a partner in the decision by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors to move forward with the process of imposing sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program,” the statement pointed out.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry source criticized Gallant’s statements for what he considered a “rejection of the project” and “demonization of France”, describing Paris as “a strong and staunch ally of Israel”.
A source told the newspaper:The Jerusalem PostThe Israeli newspaper said “his country has not rejected Macron’s proposal to hold a tripartite framework to discuss tensions in the country’s north.”
Another Israeli Foreign Ministry source told the Jerusalem Post that “the French are very angry about this matter,” explaining that “Callant feels as though they are accusing him of anti-Semitism.”
The source accused Gallant of “usurping the diplomatic role reserved for the prime minister and foreign minister”.
An Israeli source pointed out that “the idea of a three-pronged structure” involving the Lebanese government is aimed at a diplomatic solution to the ongoing attacks between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. “French Foreign Minister Stephane Segourny raised it during his visit to Israel last April,” the Israeli source pointed out.
The source expressed Israel’s interest in the project, but stressed that “it is still in its early stages”, “stressed the need for the Lebanese government to participate” and “the US has yet to officially accept it”.
France: We were surprised by the contrast
As discussions escalated between the two Israeli ministries, a French official said…The Times of Israel“His country was surprised by the conflicting statements by Israeli officials regarding French efforts to stop the expansion in northern Israel,” he said, adding: “We are ready to work with all relevant actors, including Israel and the United States, to achieve this goal.”
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday during the G7 summit that France, the United States and Israel would work within a “tripartite” structure on a French road map aimed at curbing tensions along the border between Israel and Lebanon.
Macron told reporters at the end of the first day of meetings in southern Italy: “We have all expressed our concern about the situation on the border with Lebanon, especially with the United States.”
He added: “We have adopted a tripartite (bringing together) policy of Israel, the US and France to move towards our proposed roadmap. We will do the same with the Lebanese authorities.”
The mechanism aims to coordinate initiatives carried out by Paris and Washington, where France has been trying since late January to contain the escalating border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, Agence France-Presse reported.
Paris presented a first initiative, which was revised early last May at the request of Beirut, which deemed “its wording largely in Israel’s interest.”
According to Lebanese officials, the plan calls for “an end to violence on both sides,” and “withdrawal of the Radwan force, which is affiliated with Hezbollah and other armed groups, within 10 kilometers of the border with Israel.”
It also stipulates that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) should be given full freedom of movement in the region while strengthening the role and numbers of the Lebanese Army.
According to Agence France-Presse, Hizbullah refuses to engage in any such negotiations, setting a permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
