France warns Lebanon that 'Israel will start a war'
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said that France has warned them that Israel might start a war "to bring settlers back to their homes on the northern border."
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Bou Habib made statements to reporters regarding the meeting after coming together with French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne at the ministry residence in the capital, Beirut.
Stating that Stephane and his accompanying delegation provided them with information about the atmosphere in Israel, Bou Habib said, "Israel wants to return the nearly 100,000 displaced settlers in the north to their homes. So far, we have not received any information that they have accepted the peace we are demanding."
When asked, "Did the French Minister convey to you Israel's previous demand that 'Hezbollah must withdraw a few kilometers from the border'?", Bou Habib gave the following response:
"We did not discuss these details, but they warned us that Israel could start a war so that the settlers could return to their homes. We told them that this war would show their failures in Gaza. We told the French that we do not want war; on the contrary, we want an agreement mediated by someone—whether it be America, the United Nations, France, or anyone else. We are demanding an agreement on the land border. However, all of this cannot happen without a president being elected in Lebanon and the Gaza war ending."
"WE WILL HAVE NO SECURITY ISSUES WITH ISRAEL"
Touching once again on the demands he previously voiced regarding the problems and disputes experienced on the land border between Lebanon and Israel in the south, Bou Habib said, "The full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, and Israel's complete withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms and Kfar Chouba Hills, which it keeps under occupation. If these occur, we will have no security issues with Israel."
Bou Habib noted that no agreement proposal regarding the land border has come from Israel so far, but that they remain persistent in their stance.
Violent clashes have been taking place between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah Movement in southern Lebanon and northern Israel since October 8, 2023.
Due to the clashes, 86,000 civilians in Lebanon and nearly 100,000 in Israel have left their homes and been displaced.
Additionally, 181 Hezbollah members, 6 Amal Movement members, 30 Lebanese civilians, 6 Israeli civilians, and 10 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the clashes.