TEL AVIV – France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot declared Friday that no clear short-term resolution exists for the escalating Middle East crisis, which traces back to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, yet vowed persistent diplomatic efforts alongside allies for a durable peace.
Speaking to reporters after talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Tel Aviv, Barrot emphasized that the absence of an immediate exit strategy must not justify passivity. His press conference was dramatically interrupted as Israeli defenses issued warnings of incoming Iranian missiles, forcing Barrot, his delegation, and journalists into a nearby bomb shelter amid blaring sirens.
The visit capped Barrot’s regional tour, which included Lebanon earlier Friday, aimed at curbing the broader conflict and securing a ceasefire there. France, leveraging its deep historical connections to Beirut and partnering with the United States, has actively mediated since Iran-backed Hezbollah began rocket attacks on Israel.
Barrot conveyed Paris’s concerns over a potential Israeli ground incursion into southern Lebanon but urged Lebanon’s army to fully implement the government’s directive to disarm Hezbollah. Israeli officials have dismissed Beirut’s recent overtures for direct negotiations as inadequate, citing the Lebanese leadership’s shared aim of neutralizing Hezbollah but its reluctance amid fears of igniting civil strife.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun signaled openness to talks with Israel during his March 19 meeting with Barrot, even as Israel continues airstrikes in response to Hezbollah’s March 2 barrages. Hezbollah has outright rejected any dialogue and pressed its assaults.
France recently floated alternative proposals to U.S. ceasefire initiatives, which Washington received coolly though talks persist, diplomats noted. Israel has flatly turned them down, highlighting the steep challenges in forging consensus amid ongoing hostilities.