Macron announces conference in support of Lebanese Army after Israeli elections, slams meddling of foreign leaders

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday that France will be organizing a conference to support the Lebanese Army after the Israeli elections, as negotiations purportedly aimed at reaching a lasting "cease-fire" between Lebanon and Israel remain stalled. "A conference will be set up in the coming weeks by France... I think it is useless to do it before the Israeli elections," he said at a press briefing from Qatar.

The comments come a day after Israel leveled baseless accusations at the Lebanese Army, claiming the institution had "failed" in its mission to disarm Hezbollah, or even that it was colluding with the party. These accusations were rejected by the Lebanese Army, which denounced "disinformation campaigns" aimed at "undermining" its "credibility," while negotiations are underway.

Toduay's south Lebanon wrap-up

Israeli forces fire stun grenades at Lebanese soldiers in inhabited village of Deir Mimas

A Lebanese delegation is currently in Tampa, Florida, for direct discussions with Israeli representatives, under U.S. mediation. The first day of talks took place Tuesday, focusing in particular on Lebanon's demands for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and an end to attacks, with the session set to continue today.

Tensions continue to rise between Lebanon and Israel, as Israelis prepare to take to the polls on Oct. 27 to elect a new prime minister. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a candidate in the upcoming election and is being accused by various rival candidates of pushing for renewed attacks on Iran or its allies in the region before the elections in order to gain support and momentum that could translate into an electoral victory.

France protests

On Wednesday, Macron condemned foreign leaders who “are campaigning at France’s expense” and have made “comments that are as unacceptable as they are stupid,” referring — without naming them — to U.S. President Donald Trump and Netanyahu.

Following the weekend’s violence in France, “there has been foreign manipulation of information which has led to comments that are both unacceptable and foolish from many quarters, including foreign leaders,” the French president said during a press briefing in Doha.

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France’s nationwide protests: What you need to know

“There are people who are campaigning at France’s expense, leaders who are in the midst of election campaigns in the region or on the other side of the Atlantic, who sometimes naively repeat what they find in artificial intelligence or who pass on what certain circles obviously want people to believe,” he criticized.

Macron announced he would hold a meeting on Thursday morning with the intelligence services, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and “the relevant ministers” in order to receive a “detailed briefing” on the day of protest on Oct. 17, when nationwide protests were met with heavy police repression and descended in areas into riots, property damage, and looting.

The French President, speaking to the press whilst on a visit to Doha on Wednesday, said it was necessary to ensure “transparency” regarding what had happened.