A diplomatic source described the section included in the recent U.S.-French summit statement concerning Lebanon as significant and clearly expressing a mutual interest in the overall situation in Lebanon, particularly the ongoing military confrontations along the southern Lebanese border between Hezbollah and Israeli occupation forces, and the necessity to put an end to them. The statement also emphasized the urgent need to elect a president for the republic as soon as possible.
The source noted that dedicating a space for Lebanon in the aforementioned statement, despite the summit's full agenda and the numerous issues being discussed, indicates two things. First, it acknowledges the tensions and clashes occurring between Hezbollah and Israeli forces since October 7, with both countries keen to put an end to these confrontations and prevent their escalation into a wider war. The source cited Resolution 1701 as the basis for any agreement between Lebanon and Israel to end the clashes and establish security and stability in the region, while stressing the need for civilians to return to their homes and villages on both sides of the border.
The second point concerns the serious concern expressed in the statement about the presidential vacuum that has persisted for 18 months, along with a call for the election of a president as soon as possible, recognizing the importance of having a president to restore the order of institutions, revitalize the state, and focus on implementing necessary reforms as a prerequisite for providing the needed aid and loans to tackle the worsening crisis and revive the Lebanese economy.
From the source's perspective, the content of the U.S.-French statement refuted all rumors about disagreements between the two sides regarding the approach to the presidential election file. Furthermore, it affirmed an understanding of the required steps to resolve the presidential vacuum issue, starting with the election of a president. It clearly indicated that Lebanon is of interest to both nations and not abandoned to its fate, despite the difficult circumstances, including the inability to conduct presidential elections due to sharp political disagreements among political parties and external interference in its internal affairs, which have hindered the presidential elections to this day, under various pretenses. Moreover, Hezbollah's escalation of the southern front by Iranian decision poses severe risks and negative repercussions for Lebanon.
The diplomatic source believes that the mentioned statement, which came amid rising Israeli threats to launch a wide-scale war against Lebanon in response to Hezbollah's targeting of Israeli settlements across the southern Lebanese border, alleviated much of the fears and concerns regarding the potential expansion of military confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel, at least for the time being. It drew red lines against the expansion of the current military confrontations into a large-scale war, sending clear messages to both Hezbollah and Iran, as well as to Israel, that the United States and France reject any drift toward military escalation and prefer to end the tensions and clashes and reach an agreement to restore security and stability in the region.
The source concludes by stating that one can infer from the essence of the U.S.-French statement that the understandings between the two countries, which have spared Lebanon from the broad extension of the Israeli war on Gaza since the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation, remain in effect today. This is regarded positively, although it may not be sufficient if not coupled with an end to this war soon, according to "Al-Liwaa."
