TEL AVIV, Israel - Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar welcomed French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot to Jerusalem on Friday for a high-level diplomatic meeting centered on the escalating conflict along Israel's northern border.
During the talks, which took place against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities in Iran, Gaza, the West Bank, and in particular Lebanon,, Sa'ar detailed what he described as a systemic failure by Lebanese state institutions to rein in Hezbollah.
According to Sa'ar, since March 2, Israel has recorded over 2,500 attacks originating from Lebanese territory, including areas south of the Litani River. Sa'ar told his French counterpart that these strikes are emanating from regions where the Lebanese government had claimed, just two and a half months prior, to have established "operational control."
"Unfortunately, the Lebanese government and its army are not taking any meaningful action against Hezbollah, neither militarily nor in other aspects," Sa'ar said in a statement following the meeting.
In a direct appeal to Paris, Sa'ar formally proposed that France and the European Union designate Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization. While several European countries have already outlawed the group's military wing, Israel is pressing for a comprehensive ban that would also cover the organization's political and civilian apparatuses.
"The complete delegitimization of Hezbollah is required, as this Iranian proxy has been operating militarily against Israel for decades while steadily ruining Lebanon and its future," Sa'ar said.
The foreign minister also sought to outline Israel's military posture, asserting that the Israel Defense Forces are conducting "precise operations against Hezbollah operatives, while making efforts to minimize harm to the civilian population as much as possible."
Concluding his remarks, Sa'ar reiterated Israel's commitment to self-defense, vowing that the state "will act decisively against all those who seek its elimination."
The meeting highlights growing international concern over the potential for a full-scale war on the Israeli-Lebanese border, as diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region continue.
Photo credit: Shlomi Amsalem | Israel GPO
