French President Emmanuel Macron receiving Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salmane at the Elysée Palace in Paris, June 16, 2023. (Credit: Archive photo Ludovic Marin/AFP)
In a phone call on Wednesday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman affirmed their willingness to “pursue their efforts” to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon, while the border between the two countries has been living to the rhythm of daily clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army since Oct. 8, 2023.
During the call, Macron and MBS “agreed to continue their efforts to work towards de-escalation between Israel and Lebanon on the Blue Line, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and their historic commitment to the security and stability of Lebanon,” according to a statement issued by the Elysee Palace. Resolution 1701, adopted after the July 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, calls for a “permanent cease-fire” and the deployment of the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on the Blue Line. They also called for the election of a president “capable of leading the country on the path of indispensable reforms.” Messrs Macron and ben Salmane “expressed their determination to pursue their efforts in this direction, with their partners.”
France and Saudi Arabia are both part of the quintet of countries, along with the United States, Qatar and Egypt, which are stepping up contacts, via their ambassadors in Beirut, with the Lebanese protagonists to find a way out of the crisis. In addition, France's emissary for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will be back in Beirut next Tuesday for a new round of talks with Lebanese officials.
Opposition to the Israeli offensive at Rafah
Turning to the situation in the region, and in Gaza in particular, the two leaders expressed their “deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian situation” in the enclave, and “reiterated their opposition to the Israeli offensive on Rafah.” They then affirmed their readiness to “pursue their efforts in favor of the effective implementation of the two-state solution, the only way to guarantee peace and security in the region.” The official Saudi Press Agency reported that the two leaders stressed “the need to intensify international efforts and contacts to put an end to the war and all forms of escalation.”
Emmanuel Macron and MBS also welcomed the conclusion of an Airbus order by the airline Saudia. The Saudia group, owner of the Saudi national airline of the same name, had announced on May 20 a firm order for 105 Airbus aircraft, worth an estimated $19 billion.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.