France Proposes Plan To End Israel-Hezbollah Hostilities, Solve Northern Border Disputes

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — France is attempting to mediate a cease fire and end of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, according to a Reuters report.

The French submitted a written proposal to Beirut, Israel and Hezbollah, seeking to end the hostilities and settle border disputes between Israel and Lebanon. The document also calls for Hezbollah and other groups to withdraw 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border, much less than the 30 kilometers (19 miles) mandated by UN resolution 1701 which was the basis for the end of hostilities in the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

The three-step plan envisages a 10-day process of deescalation ending with negotiations on the long-unresolved demarcation of a land border between Lebanon and Israel.

France has historical ties with Lebanon. It has 20,000 citizens in the country and some 800 troops as part of a UN peacekeeping force.

The document, the first written proposal brought to Beirut during weeks of Western mediation, was delivered to top Lebanese state officials including Prime Minister Najib Mikati by French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne last week, four senior Lebanese and three French officials said.

It declares the aim of preventing a conflict “that risks spiraling out of control” and enforcing “a potential ceasefire, when the conditions are right” and ultimately envisions negotiations on the delineation of the land border between Lebanon and Israel.

So far, Hezbollah had refused to cooperate with the French plan, claiming that it will not cease its aggression until Israel withdraws from Gaza and adding that “The enemy is not in the position to impose conditions.” Israel has yet to comment on the plan and its ramifications.

In recent weeks, American envoy Amos Hochstein, who was behind the 2022 agreement between Lebanon and Israel over the maritime border, has been mediating between the two countries in an attempt to prevent escalation. Israel has insisted that Hezbollah withdraw behind the Litani river in accordance with the UN resolution, but the French believe their plan could be more palatable for the terrorist organization.

The current plan proposes that Lebanese armed groups and Israel cease military operations against each other, including Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, which have come in retaliation for incessant rocket and anti-tank guided missile attacks on towns, villages and military posts in northern Israel. Hezbollah and other armed groups would dismantle military facilities located within 10 km of the border and withdraw all forces from the region, which would then be patrolled by up to 15,000 Lebanese army troops.

In this way, Israeli communities would be out of range of Hezbollah anti-tank missiles and would be able to resume activities. Currently some 100,000 Israelis have been evacuated from northern border towns and communities.

Asked for comment on the proposal, a State Department spokesperson said the United States “continues to explore all diplomatic options with our Israeli and Lebanese counterparts to restore calm and avoid escalation.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Lebanese official said that several elements of the plan prompted concern in Beirut, including the demand armed groups dismantle premises and facilities close to the border, which the official said was vaguely worded and could be used to demand moves against Hezbollah-affiliated civilian institutions.

So far, the skirmishes on the border have resulted in six civilian deaths on the Israeli side, as well as the deaths of nine IDF soldiers and reservists.

Hezbollah has named 193 members who have been killed by Israel during the ongoing skirmishes, including three killed Monday in an Israeli strike on a Hezbollah site in the south Lebanon village of Tallouseh.