Intensive Diplomatic Moves: Lebanon Prepares for Negotiations with Israel Amid Reports of a French Peace Proposal

Official sources reported that the Lebanese capital, Beirut, has begun serious efforts to form a high-level delegation with the aim of entering into direct negotiations with Israel to stop the ongoing war. This step comes amid escalating international and field pressures, as the Lebanese government seeks a political solution to spare the country further massive destruction.

For its part, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the existence of an official 'French plan' imposed on the parties, stressing that Paris's role is limited to facilitating dialogue and supporting the openness of the Lebanese authorities to talks. The ministry clarified in a statement that determining the agenda and content of the negotiations is a sovereign matter that concerns only the Lebanese and Israeli parties.

International press reports had revealed a draft proposal formulated by Paris, which includes unprecedented steps to end the conflict, including Lebanon's preliminary recognition of the State of Israel. According to these reports, the proposal aims to build a new political framework that ensures respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity between the two sides under international supervision.

The leaked information indicates that the French proposal calls for the start of negotiations at the senior diplomatic level to reach a 'political declaration' within one month. These talks are expected to evolve to include first-tier political leaders, with a French desire to host these historic meetings in Paris.

The proposed project includes strict adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, in addition to the 2024 ceasefire agreement. It also imposes on the Lebanese government the responsibility to prevent any attacks launched from its territory, and to implement a comprehensive plan to disarm Hezbollah and completely ban its military activities.

Regarding field arrangements, the plan stipulates the redeployment of the Lebanese army in the areas south of the Litani River to impose state authority. In return, Israel commits to withdrawing from all territories it has occupied since the start of the current military operations, within a timeframe not exceeding one month.

The French side also proposes the establishment of an international monitoring mechanism led by the United States to address any potential violations of the ceasefire. UNIFIL forces will verify that the area south of the Litani is free of weapons, while an international coalition with a UN mandate will oversee disarmament in the rest of the Lebanese areas.

The initiative seeks to reach a permanent 'non-aggression' agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv within two months of the start of negotiations. This agreement aims to end the official state of war that has existed between the two countries for decades, and to commit to resolving all future disputes through peaceful and diplomatic means.

Under this agreement, Israeli forces will withdraw from five strategic locations in southern Lebanon that they had controlled in November 2024. This step is considered part of confidence-building measures that precede the final stage related to the final and permanent demarcation of the land borders.

The final stage of the proposed vision includes the demarcation of the Lebanese borders with both Israel and Syria, with this file to be completed by the end of 2026. This measure aims to close the file of border disputes that have been the spark for many military confrontations over the years.

On the Lebanese side, sources confirmed that President Joseph Aoun's initiative for negotiations is strongly on the international table, amid widespread European welcome. However, officials in Beirut stress the need for a clear Israeli commitment to the truce before engaging in the details of the negotiating delegation.

In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tasked former minister Ron Dermer with managing the Lebanese file and coordinating directly with the new US administration. Dermer will lead any potential negotiations, focusing on ensuring the security arrangements demanded by Tel Aviv in the northern region.

Despite cautious optimism, observers believe that reaching a final agreement will face significant obstacles related to internal balances in Lebanon and Israel's increasing security demands. Officials from both sides affirm that the success of these endeavors depends primarily on the strength of American leadership and mediation in the coming period.

At the same time, Israel continues to threaten to expand its ground operations to dismantle Hezbollah's military structure, putting negotiations under field pressure. Israeli sources claim that the goal is complete control over the south of the Litani, which makes the diplomatic path a race against time to prevent further escalation.

It is up to the two parties, and only to the two parties, to determine the agenda of these talks, and France supports the openness of the Lebanese authorities to direct talks.