Apr 12, 2026
3 min read
An Israeli official quoted by the Jerusalem Post criticized Paris in particular for condemning Israel's military strikes in Lebanon.and the decision to close its airspace to American transport planes carrying weapons to the Jewish state.
An Israeli official, quoted by the Jerusalem Post, criticized Paris in particular for condemning the Israeli military's strikes in Lebanon and its decision to close its airspace to American cargo planes carrying weapons to the Jewish state.
Citing Israeli diplomatic and security sources, the Jerusalem Post reported that the Jewish state has decided to exclude France from further direct talks with Lebanon, which are set to begin in Washington next week.
An Israeli official quoted by the newspaper confirmed that "France's behavior in the last year" made the mediator appear unreliable.He believes that Paris has taken "unbalanced" positions, especially with plans that Israel says are aimed at stopping the freedom of military action in Iran, as well as what the Jewish state describes as "the absence of concrete steps" to support the disarmament of Hezbollah.in Lebanon.
According to this principle, these elements made Israel review the role of Paris in the media of the Lebanese question, France "has lost its independence" and is no longer considered a legitimate actor in this context.
The Jerusalem Post notes that tensions between France and Israel have risen in recent months.Paris has avoided allowing American planes carrying weapons to Israel to fly over its airspace, a decision Benjamin Netanyahu's government considers a "negative move".
Since Hezbollah opened fire on Israeli territory a day after the start of the new war, President Emmanuel Macron and other French leaders have called on Israel to avoid a major ground operation in Lebanon.
The Quai d'Orsay stressed during a press conference this week that Hezbollah made the decision."It is a big mistake" to drag Lebanon into a war "to which it does not belong and does not want."French diplomacy reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself. But considering the nearly 2,000 dead, the attack in Beirut was "unbearable".
According to a Jerusalem Post source, Lebanon has been trying to open direct negotiation channels with Israel in recent weeks to prevent a possible large-scale military operation in its territory.These steps will be communicated through American administration officials and French diplomatic channels.
And Washington informed Beirut that any progress in this direction would be conditional on "serious steps to disarm Hezbollah" before any direct talks with Israel.
Furthermore, the Hebrew newspaper pointed out that France, under the leadership of Emmanuel Macron, has also tried to push for the opening of direct negotiations between the two sides.But Israel's position remains, believing that the Lebanese government "does not take adequate measures against Hezbollah" and therefore cannot be considered a reliable actor to ensure stability.
According to the newspaper, Israel will take a stance in favor of direct negotiations with Lebanon, following a series of military operations against Hezbollah and a U.S. demand that Israel "reduce its military activities in Lebanon."
Talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin next Tuesday at the headquarters of the US State Department in Washington, with the participation of representatives from both sides and with the direct mediation of the US.
According to the newspaper, Israel will send its ambassador to Washington, and Lebanon will be represented by Ambassador Nada Hamadeh.The US mediator will be US Ambassador to Lebanon Michelle Issa, who is responsible for managing and coordinating the negotiation process between the two countries.
President Emmanuel Macron paid an official visit to the Vatican last Friday and met Pope Leo XIV.This was the first meeting between the two since the election of an independent pope.
According to the Elysee Palace, the discussion focused on how to deal with escalation in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon in light of the recent Israeli attacks.
French sources say the president has stepped up diplomatic efforts to include Lebanon in a two-week temporary ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington.
In a message published on the X platform on Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron also indicated that he spoke by phone with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, about the situation in Lebanon and the ongoing military escalation.
He said he expressed "France's full solidarity in the face of the arbitrary attacks carried out today by Israel in Lebanon, which caused numerous civilian victims", adding: "We condemn them in the strongest terms."
Other European countries, such as Spain, are demanding that Lebanon be included in the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.
