Egypt and France are working on a joint initiative to relieve the pressure on Lebanon’s president to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a trilateral summit in Washington later this month, the Beirut-based Ad-Diyar newspaper reported, citing diplomatic sources.
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France’s President Emmanuel Macron meets with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun in Nicosia, Cyprus in April, on the sidelines of a European summit. Credit: Nicolas Tucat/Reuters
France’s President Emmanuel Macron meets with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun in Nicosia, Cyprus in April, on the sidelines of a European summit. Credit: Nicolas Tucat/Reuters
According to the report, the two countires are looking to organize bilateral meetings at the conclusion of which the president of the United States would announce the launch of direct negotiations and a timetable for them, alongside a comprehensive and complete cease-fire. The initiative hs yet ot yeild results, Ad-Diyar said.
Egypt is contemplating sending a secutrity delegation to Lebanon to finalize the details, the report said. The visit is expected to coincide with a trip to Beirut by French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and, following a visit to the country a day earlier by the French military chief, the newspaper said.
The Lebanese daily Al Joumhouria reported Aoun had notified Lebanon’s ambassador in Washington he would not meet Netanyahu unless negotiations reached a stage in which a comprehensive deal could be signed in such a meeting.
According to the report, such a deal would need to include a sustainble cease-fire framework, complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the release of prisinors.
On Tuesday, Lebanese media reported Aoun said the timing is not right for a meeting with Netanyahu, and stressed that any such step must follow a security agreement and an end to Israeli strikes,.
Sources speaking to Al-Diyar indicated that “the U.S. president is displeased” with Aoun’s refusal, adding that the United States is expected to “increase military pressure on the Lebanese presidency to agree to a meeting.”
In April, U.S. President Donald Trump invited the two leaders to a summit in Washington as he announced the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon had taken effect.