Lebanon is presenting its observations on the French paper aimed at calming tensions between Hezbollah and Israel in the south, during a meeting held by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, with the participation of Foreign Minister and Emigrants Abdullah Bouhabib, Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, and several experts in military and legal affairs. Most local parties view the contents of the French paper as insufficient because it does not adequately establish the foundations for implementing UN Resolution 1701. Prominent political sources, in their reading of the points mentioned in the French paper, indicate that Paris, through its proposal, aims to secure a position in the efforts to restore calm to the northern (Israeli) front by halting the ongoing confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon.
These sources reveal to "Asharq Al-Awsat" that local parties have been informed by Washington that it does not support the French paper and does not favor proceeding with it, and that the paper does not have Israel's approval, which prefers that American mediator Amos Hochstein continue his mediation efforts. "Asharq Al-Awsat" learned that Lebanon's observations stem from the government's significant skepticism regarding even entering into discussions related to the title of the French paper about achieving security measures between Lebanon and Israel to restore calm and stability in the south, based on the suspicion that it implies reaching security arrangements between the two countries.
