France: The buffer zone in southern Lebanon is temporary and Lebanese sovereignty must be respected

The French presidency announced that the buffer zone imposed by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon is temporary in nature, amid efforts to consolidate the calm and create the conditions for a negotiating track between the parties concerned.

It stressed that “at the same time, Lebanon’s territorial integrity must be respected at the conclusion of the negotiations with Israel,” in a reference to the need to preserve Lebanese sovereignty within any anticipated settlement.

As part of diplomatic efforts, French President Emmanuel Macron received Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Paris, coinciding with the entry into force on Friday of a 10-day ceasefire agreement.

On Sunday, France stressed that “Salam’s visit to Paris will be an opportunity to reiterate its support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity, and for his efforts to disarm the Iran-backed Hezbollah.”

Assessing the Israeli positions, a French official told reporters: “We should not pay too much attention to the Israeli positions, which are first and foremost defensive,” considering them to be “temporary in character.”

He added: “The focus today is not on moving these lines and immediately returning to those drawn in earlier stages, but rather on stabilizing the situation and avoiding a resumption of fighting.”

He also affirmed that the buffer zone “must be returned to the Lebanese at the conclusion of the negotiations being prepared between the two sides,” stressing that “Lebanon’s territorial integrity must be respected within the framework of a lasting peace.”

For her part, an adviser to the French president explained that “France is among the countries that have a very concrete and very direct role in strengthening the position of the Lebanese government,” adding that Paris is working to “provide very tangible support for its work in implementing Hezbollah’s disarmament.”

She concluded by underscoring the limited international role in this file, saying: “There are very few countries capable of acting directly, among them France, and both the Israelis and the Americans are well aware of that.”