Newsletters
France has drafted a proposal aimed at ending the war in Lebanon that would require the Lebanese government to recognize Israel, according to a report by Axios citing three sources familiar with the plan.
Israel and the United States are reviewing the proposal, the report said.
The French framework is intended to help de-escalate the conflict, prevent a prolonged Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon and increase international pressure to disarm Hezbollah.
According to the report, the Lebanese government has accepted the proposal as a basis for peace talks, amid concerns that the renewed war, triggered by Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel, could devastate the country.
Under the proposal, Israel and Lebanon would begin negotiations on a "political declaration" within one month, with talks supported by the U.S. and France.
The negotiations would begin between senior diplomats before moving to political leaders, and French officials want the talks to take place in Paris.
The proposed declaration would include Lebanon’s initial recognition of Israel and a commitment by the Lebanese government to respect Israel’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Both sides would also reaffirm their commitment to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war, as well as the 2024 cease-fire agreement.
Lebanon 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 proposal calls for the Lebanese Armed Forces to redeploy south of the Litani River.
At the same time, Israel would withdraw within one month from territories it has captured since the start of the current war.
Israel and Lebanon would also agree to use a U.S.-led monitoring mechanism to address cease-fire violations and potential threats.
U.N. peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) would verify Hezbollah’s disarmament south of the Litani River.
A coalition of countries mandated by the U.N. Security Council would oversee Hezbollah’s disarmament across the rest of Lebanon.
1 min read
The proposal also calls for Lebanon to declare its readiness to begin negotiations on a permanent non-aggression agreement with Israel.
According to the report, such an agreement could be signed within two months and would formally end the state of war between the two countries that has existed since Israel’s founding in 1948.
The agreement would commit both sides to resolving disputes peacefully and establishing security arrangements.
Following the signing of the non-aggression agreement, Israel would withdraw from five positions in southern Lebanon that Israeli forces have controlled since November 2024.
The final phase of the proposal envisions demarcating the border between Israel and Lebanon, as well as between Lebanon and Syria, by the end of 2026.
The report said Israel is planning to expand its ground operation in Lebanon, aiming to seize the entire area south of the Litani River and dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.
Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios that such an operation could become the largest Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon since 2006.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has already appointed a negotiating team for potential talks with Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tasked former minister Ron Dermer with managing the Lebanon file during the war and handling contacts with the Trump administration.
Officials told Axios that Dermer would lead any negotiations with the Lebanese government if direct talks begin in the coming weeks.
The report added that it remains unclear who within the Trump administration is currently leading the Lebanon portfolio, and that coordination with Washington would be essential for any agreement.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
