Major Israeli ministries and senior officials in the Foreign Ministry condemned statements made by Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant against France. The diplomats stated in a communiqué: "We reject the attacks by Security Minister Yoav Gallant against France." They added, "Despite the existing disagreements between Israel and France, the statements against France are incorrect and inappropriate."
Earlier on Friday, Security Minister Yoav Gallant said on his X platform account that "Israel will not be part of the tripartite framework proposed by France to defuse tensions along the border with Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah." He also stated, "While the State of Israel fights its most just war in history, France has shown hostility and enmity towards us, blatantly ignoring the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against children and women—only because they are Jews." He continued, "We will not be partners in the committee to settle the security situation along the northern border if France participates."
A senior Israeli official told the Israeli news site "Walla": "We will manage discussions regarding Lebanon with the United States and will not give France this right while they spread evil about us in the world by keeping us away from the arms exhibition." He added, "Israel proposed two weeks ago the formation of a French-American-Israeli committee to discuss preventing further escalation in Lebanon."
Two sources familiar with the matter indicated that "the issue of talks between Israel, France, and the United States regarding Lebanon was brought up by Israel during a visit by an Israeli delegation to Paris about two weeks ago, led by the head of the political-security division at the Ministry of Defense, Dror Shalom, and the head of the political division at the Foreign Ministry, Aliza Ben Noun." Sources revealed that the Israeli attack on France was due to Paris preventing Israel’s participation in a military exhibition in protest of the Rafah operation.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that "the leaders of the G7 agreed at their summit, which started in Italy, to form a tripartite committee including Israel, the United States, and France, to discuss a roadmap for de-escalating tensions between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel." The plan specifically proposes ending violence from both sides and withdrawing the Radwan forces, an elite unit of Hezbollah, and other armed groups ten kilometers from the border with Israel, according to Lebanese officials. It stipulates that the UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) should have full freedom of movement in the area and that the Lebanese army plays an increasing role there, which should be strengthened. Hezbollah currently refuses to enter into genuine negotiations as long as there is no permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
