Macron Says Lebanon Ready for Direct Talks With Israel, Offers Paris as Host

email: online@newsofbahrain.com 

Paris: Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that Lebanon is ready to engage in direct negotiations with Israel, offering to host the talks in Paris in an effort to ease escalating tensions between the two countries.

In a post on X, the French president said he had spoken with Lebanese leaders, including President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who signalled the country’s willingness to pursue negotiations.

Macron said all components of Lebanon’s political system should be represented in the discussions, stressing that the talks could help pave the way for a ceasefire and a long-term solution to the crisis.

“Israel must seize this opportunity to initiate talks and declare a ceasefire, find a lasting solution and allow the Lebanese authorities to fulfil their commitments to Lebanon’s sovereignty,” Macron said.

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have risen sharply in recent weeks after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks toward Israel following the February 28 strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran. Israel responded with a series of retaliatory airstrikes across Lebanon.

Macron called on Hezbollah to immediately halt its attacks, while urging Israel to avoid launching a large-scale offensive and to stop widespread airstrikes, noting that hundreds of thousands of people have already been displaced by the fighting.

France, he said, is ready to facilitate negotiations by hosting the talks in Paris, in an effort to de-escalate the conflict and restore stability in the region.