Israel threatens to “restrain Hezbollah” if Lebanon is unable

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid hired French President Emmanuel Macron to facilitate negotiations on the demarcation of the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel, after Hezbollah’s escalation by sending three marches over the Karish field, which Israel says lies within its territorial waters, while Lebanon sees the opposite.

Lapid had said before his plane took off for Paris yesterday morning that “the Lebanese government must restrain (Hezbollah) in return for these attacks, or we will be forced to do so.”

Lapid added that Israel would not agree to this type of attack on its sovereignty, and anyone who carried out this should know that he is taking an undue risk to his safety. It would torpedo the sporadic and indirect negotiating process taking place between the Lebanese and Israeli parties. “I would like to talk about negotiations on the maritime border with Israel,” he said. The two countries have an interest in reaching an agreement that allows the exploitation of energy for the benefit of the two peoples,” he added, adding that “France is already contributing to this and is ready to contribute.” It is no secret that Paris is communicating with Hezbollah and refuses to include it entirely on the European terrorism list. It is also communicating with the Iranian side, which is the largest supporter of Hezbollah with money and weapons.

On the other hand, the file of the displaced Syrians has returned to the fore, through a new move initiated by the Lebanese authority to return them to their country in monthly installments. President Michel Aoun and his political team are behind this move, with the approval of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rai and Christian leaders, including the head of the Lebanese Forces Party. Samir Geagea, but he still lacks international guarantees.