Israel must seize a “historic moment” of dialogue with Lebanon, says the head of French diplomacy
In an interview with Agence France-Presse, Jean-Noël Barrot, who visited Lebanon and then Israel last week, called on the Israeli army “to abstain” to carry out operations to seize an area of southern Lebanon, while welcoming the “courageous decision” of Lebanon to expel the Iranian ambassador stationed in Beirut.
Beirut further expelled “a number of representatives of the Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon”noted the French minister. “It’s not nothing, these are major decisions”underlined Jean-Noël Barrot.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated his call for a truce and negotiations with Israel, noted Jean-Noël Barrot. “There is a moment to seize, it is historic, and that moment is now”estimated the minister. “And the first step is a high-level political dialogue with the Lebanese government”he said.
“I invited the Lebanese authorities and the Israeli authorities, through my counterpart, to seize this opportunity” et “as quickly as possible”at a time when the actions of the Lebanese government “show that he translates his words into actions”he also underlined.
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