Israeli soldiers stand by, as a mobile artillery unit fires, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border December 19, 2023 REUTERS/Gil Eliyahu/File Photo
France has presented a written proposal to Beirut aimed at mitigating tensions with Israel and resolving the contentious Lebanon-Israel border dispute, as per a document reviewed by Reuters. The proposal suggests the withdrawal of fighters, including Hezbollah’s elite unit, to a distance of 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border.
The objective of the plan is to quell the conflict between the Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel at the border, which has been ongoing alongside the Gaza war, raising concerns of a broader, potentially devastating confrontation. This document, the first formal proposal introduced to Beirut after weeks of Western mediation efforts, was conveyed to top Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Najib Mikati, by French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne last week, as reported by four senior Lebanese and three French officials.
The proposal aims to prevent a conflict escalation deemed as precarious and uncontrollable while also laying the groundwork for a potential ceasefire under suitable conditions. Additionally, it envisions negotiations to delineate the disputed land border between Lebanon and Israel. Hezbollah has expressed reluctance to engage in formal de-escalation negotiations until the Gaza conflict concludes, a stance reaffirmed by a Hezbollah representative in response to inquiries.
While certain details of similar mediation endeavors led by U.S. Middle East envoy Amos Hochstein have circulated recently, the complete contents of the French written proposal delivered to Lebanon have not been previously disclosed. The three-phase plan entails a 10-day de-escalation process culminating in border negotiations.
A French diplomatic source mentioned that the proposal had been presented to the governments of Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah. France, historically intertwined with Lebanon, maintains a significant presence in the country with 20,000 citizens and approximately 800 troops deployed as part of a UN peacekeeping mission.
Foreign Minister Sejourne emphasized the importance of consolidating all peace-building initiatives through collaborative efforts with the United States. The proposal suggests a cessation of military operations between Lebanese armed groups and Israel, including Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.
Several non-state groups, including Palestinian factions, have conducted attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon during the recent hostilities, although Hezbollah predominates in the region with a formidable fighting force, surpassing the Lebanese army.
The Lebanese armed groups are proposed to dismantle all nearby premises and facilities along the border and withdraw combat forces, including Hezbollah’s elite Radwan fighters, and military assets such as anti-tank systems, at least 10 kilometers north of the border. However, this withdrawal may leave Hezbollah fighters closer to the border than the 30 kilometers stipulated in a UN resolution that concluded the 2006 war with Israel.
The proposal advocates the deployment of up to 15,000 Lebanese army troops in the border region of southern Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah, where the group’s fighters have historically integrated into society during periods of calm.
Regarding the proposal, a senior Hezbollah official indicated that the group would not engage in discussions regarding southern Lebanon until the cessation of aggression in Gaza. The Lebanese officials expressed concerns about certain aspects of the document, including vague language that could potentially target Hezbollah-affiliated civilian institutions.
The ongoing conflict has led to significant displacement on both sides of the border, with Israeli airstrikes causing nearly 200 casualties in Lebanon, predominantly Hezbollah fighters. Conversely, attacks from Lebanon have resulted in 10 Israeli soldiers and five civilians killed.
Despite the escalation, both parties have expressed a desire to avoid full-scale warfare. Several Western envoys have visited Beirut to explore de-escalation strategies, primarily engaging with Lebanese state officials rather than Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.
French technical experts revisited Beirut shortly after Sejourne’s visit to discuss further details following objections from the Lebanese side. However, Beirut has not officially responded to the proposal, which lacks signatures or dates and is thus not deemed formal enough to warrant a response.
The proposal outlines a three-step approach over ten days, reminiscent of a ceasefire that concluded a 1996 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, as well as UN Security Council resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 war.
The initial step involves halting military operations, followed by the withdrawal of Lebanese armed groups and the initiation of Lebanese army deployment in the south within three days. Israel would cease overflights into Lebanese territory. The final step entails resuming negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on border delineation, with the support of the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL, alongside discussions on establishing a zone free of non-state armed groups between the border and the Litani River.
Hezbollah has previously indicated support for the Lebanese state negotiating with Israel to resolve border disputes in Lebanon’s favor. Addressing financial constraints facing the Lebanese army due to the country’s severe economic crisis, the proposal advocates for international assistance in financing, equipping, and training the Lebanese army, alongside socio-economic development initiatives in southern Lebanon.
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