By The capitol institute
The French government has drafted a proposal to end the war in Lebanon that would require the Lebanese government to take the unprecedented step of recognizing Israel, three sources say.
As Israel plans a “massive” ground invasion to neutralize Hezbollah, the Lebanese government has accepted the plan as a basis for peace talks, deeply alarmed that the renewed war could devastate the country.
Israel is reviewing the plan. Former Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer has been named the point man for the PM to handle contacts with the Trump administration and lead any negotiations with the Lebanese government if direct talks begin in the coming weeks.
Under the French proposal, Israel and Lebanon, through U.S. and French mediators, would work on a “political declaration” to be agreed within one month, would include Lebanon’s initial recognition of Israel and a commitment by the Lebanese government to respect Israel’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Israel and Lebanon would also reaffirm their commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war, as well as the 2024 ceasefire agreement.
The Lebanese government would commit to preventing attacks against Israel from its territory and to implementing its own plan to disarm Hezbollah and ban its military activity.
The Lebanese military would redeploy south of the Litani River. Israel and Lebanon would commit to using the U.S.-led monitoring mechanism to address ceasefire violations and imminent threats.
UNIFIL peacekeepers would verify Hezbollah’s disarmament south of the Litani River, while a coalition of countries mandated by the U.N. Security Council would oversee Hezbollah’s disarmament in the rest of Lebanon.
Within two to four months, Lebanon would sign a non-aggression agreement with Israel to end the formal state of war between the two countries, which has been ongoing since Israel’s founding in 1948.
The agreement would commit Israel and Lebanon to resolving disputes peacefully and to establishing security arrangements.
After the non-aggression agreement is signed, Israel would withdraw from five positions in southern Lebanon that IDF forces have controlled since November 2024.
The final phase of the French plan envisions demarcating the border between Israel and Lebanon – and between Lebanon and Syria – by the end of 2026.
Israelis is skeptical.
While the unprecedented gesture by Lebanon could lead to a historic deal, Israelis are very skeptical given Lebanon’s inability to dismantle Hezbollah.
Any deal would make Lebanon in charge of eliminating the terror group, and they have proven to be completely incapable of doing so.
Just last week, the U.S. essentially dismissed Lebanon’s appeal for peace talks saying they need to do more against Hezbollah first.
