Israel demands to “retain the ability to strike” Lebanon “at any time” as part of a ceasefire agreement with the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement, which is incompatible with the country's sovereignty, stressed Wednesday the head of French diplomacy.
Stressing that the Israeli government's war aims in Lebanon were “not entirely precise”, Jean-Noël Barrot, who was in Israel last week, noted a hardening of positions.
“On the horizon, there is indeed a Lebanese state with which to live in peace, a neighbor, which would not be a threat to Israel. But in the short term (…) it is the logic of war, the positions are hardening,” he said during a hearing on Lebanon at the National Assembly.
“Today, we hear voices in Israel rising to say that the most important thing is that Israel, at any time, can maintain the capacity to strike in Lebanon, or even enter Lebanon, as is the case. is the case with (…) Syria”, explained Jean-Noël Barrot.
“It is obviously a perspective which is not compatible with sovereignty (…), with a strong State having a monopoly on legitimate force,” he continued, stressing that diplomatic efforts focused on rise in power of the Lebanese armed forces.
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