Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in cross-border attacks over the past six months; the increasing scope and sophistication have raised concerns about a broader regional conflict.
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on April 30 that French officials shared proposals with the Lebanese government to ease tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as Paris attempts to mediate between the parties.
Speaking ahead of a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz in Jerusalem, Mr Sejourne confirmed: "Some of the proposals we made to the Lebanese side have been shared. We have a relationship with Lebanon, 20,000 French citizens are there and the 2006 war was particularly tragic for them."
Mr Sejourne was in Lebanon on July 28, where he met with officials including politicians close to Hezbollah. Mr Sejourne said the basis of the proposals was to ensure the implementation of UN resolution 1701.
Meanwhile, French officials saw progress in the response from the Lebanese government.
Hezbollah has said it will not engage in any specific discussions until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where the war between Israel and the Islamist militant group Hamas is entering its seventh month.
Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in escalating cross-border attacks on a daily basis over the past six months – in parallel with the war in Gaza – whose increasing scope and sophistication have raised fears of a wider regional conflict.
TH (according to Vietnam+)