Lebanon was present in a Saudi position expressed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who stated, "We continuously stand by our dear Lebanese people and call on all Lebanese parties to prioritize the public interest by implementing political and economic reforms that lead to overcoming their crises." The presidential file was also present during a meeting of the ambassadors of the Quintet countries at the American embassy in Awkar, attended by U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson, Saudi Ambassador Walid Bukhari, French Ambassador Herve Magro, Egyptian Ambassador Alaa Mousa, and Qatari Ambassador Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani. It was reported that the ambassadors confirmed their support for the efforts of the National Moderation Bloc to complete the presidential election process, and they agreed to conclude consultations on the presidential election by the end of May, emphasizing the provisions of the Doha statement issued in July 2023, according to the roadmap.
This meeting was closely monitored by various stakeholders concerned with the presidential file, especially as it took place following the return of the U.S. ambassador from her vacation in the United States. Notably, despite this meeting being regular and following a series of previous meetings at the residences of other country ambassadors, responsible political levels do not rule out a perceived intention to exert greater pressure on the parties in Lebanon to urge them to expedite reaching an agreement on electing a president within the next two months. However, a senior official, in response to a question from "Al-Jumhuriah," downplayed this possibility, particularly since the doors for dialogue are completely closed, and we are in constant communication with all factions, having noticed no signs or encouraging international developments prompting a timeline.
He added: "What is outright clear and resolved is that there will be no presidency without prior dialogue, and we are the first advocates of this dialogue. The Quintet seeks to emphasize the logic of discussion and dialogue, and we await the new mechanism that is said to be defined for their actions in the upcoming phase. So far, it cannot be said that there are any new developments in the presidential process unless the committee wields a magic wand to open the door for dialogue. Hence, before discussing agreement on the presidency, we must first explore how to agree to sit at the dialogue table. If we can achieve that, only then will it be appropriate to talk about deadlines for electing a president in June or July. As long as we are unable to do that, no deadlines hold value."
### New Warning
On the southern front, the border area has witnessed increasing tension along the border line from Naqoura to Mount Sheikh, while warnings from foreign envoys about the war in Gaza spilling over into Lebanon have intensified. According to credible information provided to "Al-Jumhuriah," the latest of these warnings, conveyed by high-level Western officials in recent hours, indicates that Lebanon must exercise utmost caution against the possibility of slipping into challenging confrontations and must take necessary measures to implement Resolution 1701, enhancing the deployment of the Lebanese army in its area of operations, alongside the operations of the international peacekeeping forces in the south – UNIFIL, with facilitation of their tasks by various parties.
These officials expressed significant fear that the rapidly evolving, clearly escalating situation may lead to a reality spiraling out of control, underscoring the need for an urgent political solution that solidifies security and stability in the region and enables the return of residents to their homes (on both sides of the border). In this context, those high Western levels blamed Hezbollah for igniting confrontations with Israel without touching upon the Israeli attacks and their targeting of civilians, which resulted in substantial damage to Lebanese regions and towns.
Lebanon’s response, parallel to these warnings, affirmed that Lebanon does not want war nor is it seeking it, stating that what the resistance does is legitimate defense of Lebanon. We certainly support a political solution that secures Lebanon's interests and preserves its sovereignty, but this solution is related to the cessation of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. Moreover, irrespective of the proposals put forth, the solution lies in the full application of Resolution 1701 on both the Lebanese and Israeli sides. We in Lebanon have confirmed, and we reiterate our commitment to implementing Resolution 1701 in all its provisions, but Israel violates this resolution and refuses to apply it. If you wish to assist us, direct your attention to Israel and compel it to implement the resolution.
### The French Paper
In a related context, diplomatic sources from the French capital told "Al-Jumhuriah" that Paris is expected to resume its initiatives regarding the political solution soon. In response to a question about whether Paris would propose a new set of ideas, the sources implied that a new French paper is being prepared, indicating that the relevant circles are studying the feedback received from parties in Lebanon and Israel. Based on this, a serious ideas paper will be drafted to be presented to both Lebanese and Israeli sides in the coming weeks. However, it is not yet confirmed whether a French envoy will personally convey it to the parties or through direct correspondence from the French embassies in Lebanon and Israel.
In response to a question about accusations against Paris for prioritizing Israel’s interests at Lebanon's expense in the proposed solution, the sources stated: "The proposed solution considers the interests of all parties and represents an opportunity we regard as critically important for ensuring security and stability in the region, meeting Lebanon’s and Israel’s needs while shielding both from the devastating costs of war."
