French FM to visit Israel as Paris, Washington work on Lebanon deal
In another push to end the war in Lebanon, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will travel on Wednesday to Israel.
PARIS — French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will travel to Israel and the West Bank Wednesday evening for a day-and-a-half visit, seeking to pressure Israel into accepting a deal for a cease-fire in Lebanon, stop the fighting in Gaza and enable the mass entry of humanitarian aid into the strip.
"France has a role to play in conveying messages, and that is why I will be going to Israel and the Palestinian territories tomorrow evening to meet the authorities and humanitarian actors, to convey France's voice in this region where the war has already gone on far too long," Barrot told France 2 television on Tuesday. "The use of force must give way to the use of dialogue and diplomacy."
Asked whether a win for former President Donald Trump in the US elections would boost Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Barrot said that "the United States plays an essential role in ending the Israeli-Arab conflict." He noted that "we are alongside the United States, notably on Lebanon, to propose peace formulas to ensure a lasting peace in the region."
Diplomatic sources told Al-Monitor that Barrot is expected to meet in Israel with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, though it is not clear if he will meet newly appointed Foreign Minister Gideon Saar or the outgoing minister, Israel Katz. He is also likely to meet with family members of the two French Israeli dual nationals Ohad Yahalomi and Ofer Kalderon, who have been held hostage in Gaza since last year's Oct. 7 Hamas assault.
