Lebanon ceasefire deal makes progress: France at UN
France says efforts will continue in coming hours to clinch a deal on a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in the Lebanon conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (right) meets his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, in Jerusalem on Oct. 24, 2023. Photo by Amos Ben Gershom/GPO.
“We have made important progress in the last few hours and we will continue our efforts in the coming hours,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told reporters on Wednesday outside a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Barrot, who was due to travel to Lebanon later this week, earlier told the 15-member council: “We are counting on both parties to accept it without delay, in order to protect civilian populations and allow for diplomatic negotiations to begin.”
US President Joe Biden and France’s Emmanuel Macron said it was time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensured safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes.
“The statement we have negotiated is now endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar,” they said in a joint statement. “We call for broad endorsement and for the immediate support of the governments of Israel and Lebanon.”
Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday and at least 72 people were killed, according to a Reuters compilation of Lebanese health ministry statements. The ministry earlier said at least 223 were wounded.
Israel’s military chief said a ground assault was possible, raising fears the conflict could spark a wider Middle East war.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters before the meeting that Israel would welcome a ceasefire and preferred a diplomatic solution. He then told the Security Council that Iran was the nexus of violence in the region and peace required dismantling the threat.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters before the council meeting that his country supported Hezbollah and would not remain indifferent if the conflict in Lebanon spiralled.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the Security Council to put pressure on Israel for “an immediate ceasefire on all fronts.” Asked if a ceasefire can be reached soon, he told Reuters: “Hopefully, yes.”
World leaders voiced concern the conflict – running in parallel to Israel’s war in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas militants also backed by Iran – was escalating rapidly as the death toll rose in Lebanon and thousands fled their homes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to arrive in New York on Thursday and address the UN General Assembly on Friday.
The US administration has for nearly a year sought unsuccessfully to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
The conflict has been costly politically for Biden and by extension Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign with the violence in Lebanon increasing pressure on his administration to find a diplomatic solution.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israel shot down a missile that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement said it had aimed at the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence agency near Israel’s biggest city, Tel Aviv.
Israeli officials said a heavy missile had headed towards civilian areas in Tel Aviv, not the Mossad HQ, before being shot down.
As many as 500,000 people may have been displaced in Lebanon, its foreign minister said. In Beirut, thousands of people displaced from southern Lebanon were sheltering in schools and other buildings.
Israeli airstrikes this week have targeted Hezbollah leaders and hit hundreds of sites deep inside Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands have fled the border region, while the group has fired barrages of rockets into Israel.
In a video message that made no comment on diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, Netanyahu said Hezbollah was being hit harder than it could ever have imagined.
Israel has made a priority of securing its northern border and allowing the return there of some 70,000 residents displaced by near-daily exchanges of fire since war broke out in October between Hamas invaded Israel at its southern border with Gaza.
By: John Irish, Maya Gebeily and Ari Rabinovitch/Reuters with AP
