Gallant says Israel will skip Lebanon solution committee if Paris is involved

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Friday that Israel will not participate in a trilateral framework proposed by France to ease tensions with Lebanon, criticizing Paris for its “hostile policies against Israel.”

Gallant expressed his concerns on the social media platform X, stating, “While the State of Israel is fighting the most just war in its history, France has shown hostility and enmity against us, while blatantly ignoring the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against children and women—just because they are Jews.”

He further emphasized, “We will not be partners in the committee to regulate the security situation on the northern border if France takes part in it.”

In an English post on X, Gallant reiterated that Israel “will not be a party to the trilateral framework proposed by France.”

French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier mentioned that France, the United States, and Israel would collaborate to reduce tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border. France has been actively seeking diplomatic solutions to the escalating situation since January, with Hezbollah engaging in daily exchanges of fire with Israel following the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.

Cross-border violence has intensified recently, sparking fears of a broader regional conflict. Speaking at the G7 summit in Italy on Thursday, Macron stated that the three countries would “move forward on the road map that we have proposed. We will do the same with the Lebanese authorities.”

The French plan reportedly involves halting attacks on both sides and having militants withdraw 10 kilometers from the border, according to Lebanese officials.

Diplomatic sources informed the al-Joumhouria newspaper that a tripartite summit involving the United States, France, and Israel will be convened soon to seek a resolution to the conflicts in Gaza and South Lebanon.