Israel rules out joining an initiative promoted by Macron to address tensions with Lebanon

Follow the latest news on the war in Gaza live

Gallant claims that Paris adopted “hostile policies” against Israel, “ignoring the atrocities committed by Hamas”

June 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Minister of Defense of Israel, Yoav Gallant, ruled out this Friday that the country is going to join an initiative promoted by the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, to create a “trilateral” contact group with the United States to try to reduce the tensions on the border with Lebanon, after more than eight months of clashes between the Israeli Army and the Shiite militia party Hezbollah.

“Israel will not be part of the trilateral framework proposed by France,” he said, before stating that “while Israel fights a just war to defend its people, France has adopted hostile policies against Israel.” “By doing so, France ignores the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israeli children, women and men,” she criticized through her account on the social network X.

Macron stated on Thursday within the framework of the G7 summit in Italy that France, the United States and Israel were going to work in a “trilateral” format on a ‘road map’ to try to reduce tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanon. “We have all shared a concern about the situation on the border with Lebanon, particularly with the United States,” he said.

Israel and Hezbollah – backed by Iran and with important political weight in Lebanon – have maintained a series of clashes since October 8, following the attacks carried out on October 7 by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) against territory Israeli attack, which left some 1,200 dead and nearly 240 kidnapped.

Tensions have been rising in recent weeks and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned last week that the Israeli Army “is prepared for very powerful action” on the border with Lebanon. In response, Hezbollah’s number two, Naim Qassem, warned on Monday that an expansion of the conflict would lead to “devastation and destruction” in Israel.