“We would like to keep the French as far away as possible from practically everything,” declared an Israeli diplomat.
( POOL / CHRISTOPHE ENA )
The Israeli ambassador to the United States explained on Tuesday, April 14, that Tel Aviv did not want France to participate in peace negotiations with Lebanon, denouncing Paris’s negative “influence” on the country targeted by an Israeli offensive.
Speaking to the press after direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, Yechiel Leiter stated, “It is certain that we do not want to see the French interfering in these negotiations.”
“We would like to keep the French as far away as possible from practically everything, especially when it comes to peace negotiations,” continued the Israeli representative, using undiplomatic language. He was asked by a journalist if the Israeli government had made a coordinated effort to keep France out of the negotiations.
Historical Ties with Lebanon
“They are not necessary. They do not have a positive influence, especially not in Lebanon,” he added.
On Tuesday, France joined seventeen countries in calling on Lebanon and Israel to “seize the opportunity” of these direct peace talks mediated by the United States. However, Paris, with strong historical ties to Lebanon, also pushed to include the Lebanese front in the ceasefire agreement reached by the US with Iran, much to Israel’s displeasure.
Paris also condemned the Israeli strikes on Lebanon on April 8, which resulted in over 350 deaths and more than 1,200 injuries, and opposed an Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon.
The relationship between President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been notably strained, especially since France recognized a Palestinian state.
