France has proposed that some soldiers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), including French troops, be deployed in positions in southern Lebanon to allow for a "complete and definitive" withdrawal of Israel, announced Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Thursday.
"The ceasefire has been extended until February 18, the date on which Israel's definitive withdrawal is expected," Barrot recalled at a press conference following the international conference on Syria.
However, Israel wants to maintain five positions in southern Lebanon after February 18, which Beirut has refused.
"We have worked to formulate a proposal that could meet Israel's security concerns, which planned to stay longer," Barrot continued.
"We have proposed that some UNIFIL contingents, including the French, could take over these observation posts," he said, adding that the UN Secretary-General was "in agreement" with this proposal.
"It is now up to us to convince the Israelis that this solution will enable a complete and definitive withdrawal," Barrot added.
According to the truce agreement between Israel and Lebanon, implemented on November 27, the Lebanese army was supposed to deploy in the South alongside UN peacekeepers, while the Israeli army was to withdraw over a 60-day period, later extended until February 18.
The Hezbollah was also to dismantle its infrastructure in the South, near the Israeli border, and withdraw to the north of the Litani River during this period.
With AFP
Comments