France's foreign minister will travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Wednesday seeking to press Israel to engage diplomatically to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon after the U.S. presidential election is over.
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot © Mena Today
France's foreign minister will travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Wednesday seeking to press Israel to engage diplomatically to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon after the U.S. presidential election is over.
"The United States plays an essential role in ending the Israeli-Arab conflict," Jean-Noel Barrot said on France 2 television when asked whether a win for former President Donald Trump could boost Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"We are alongside the U.S., notably on Lebanon, to propose peace formulas to ensure a lasting peace in the region."
Paris and Washington pushed for a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in September, but those efforts fell through.
Since then, Washington has done little to raise pressure on Israel to end its operation in Lebanon.
Barrot said Paris would work with whoever won Tuesday's vote. He pointed to former U.S. Republican President Ronald Reagan's suspension of some weapons deliveries to Israel after its 1982 invasion of Lebanon as an example of how Washington could still do more.
"The war has lasted far too long and the use of force must give way to the use of dialogue and diplomacy," Barrot said.
The French minister's visit has little chance of ending in success. France's influence in the region is very weak. Furthermore, Emmanuel Macron's recent statements, which were hostile toward Israel, are unlikely to create a climate of trust with Israeli leaders.
Reporting by John Irish
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mounted a forceful defense of Israel's actions in the region at the UN on Thursday, seeking to counter growing international isolation ahead of elections he could lose, as dozens of delegates streamed out.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed plans to hold legislative elections on November 28, the first such vote in 20 years despite serious domestic doubts it will go ahead, as he seeks to advance internationally backed reforms.
Iranian flights to Gulf neighbours including travel hub Dubai appeared to have been cancelled on Thursday after a US deadline passed for global firms to halt work with Iran's airlines, a major step in a campaign President Donald Trump calls "economic D-Day".
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.