Emmanuel Macron promised to provide €100 million in aid to support the Lebanese population affected by Israeli strikes, in addition to calling once again for a ceasefire in the Middle East. A support that calls into question Israel's actions. “This is massive aid that must be provided to the Lebanese population,” assured Emmanuel Macron during the conference in support of Lebanon organized in Paris, at his initiative, this Thursday, October 24. France has put its words into action, since not only calling for international mobilization, the Head of State announced the release of 100 million euros to finance humanitarian aid to to provide to Lebanese civilians affected by Israeli strikes. A colossal financial aid that represents almost a quarter of the 426 million that the UN is seeking to raise to support Lebanon. The aid promised by France should help to “shelter families, feed children, care for the wounded” and “ensure the education of students”, Emmanuel Macron specified. It should also serve the “hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the war” as much as the “communities that welcome them”. By emphasizing the difficulties encountered by the Lebanese population, the Head of State indirectly denounces the consequences of the violent and numerous strikes carried out by the Hebrew State, to which he has always assured his support and the legitimacy of its right to defend itself. But this support is not unconditional and Emmanuel Macron has been calling for a ceasefire for several months. A renewed call this Thursday: “More damage, more victims, more strikes will neither put an end to terrorism nor ensure the security of all”, declared the President of the Republic in reference to the attacks by all parties to the conflict, including the Hebrew State. But Emmanuel Macron did not go further on Israel's actions against Lebanon since the start of the open war between the Hebrew state and the Lebanese Hezbollah. The head of state did not condemn the Israeli strikes, nor did he add to the recent disagreements that have pitted him against Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly after the Israeli attacks targeting UN forces. The head of state focused on the actions of another group in this conflict: Hezbollah, which he considers responsible for Lebanon's entry into the war in the Middle East when “Lebanon's higher interest demanded that it stand by” 'away from the war between Israel and Gaza". The head of state has also expressed his opposition to the pro-Iranian Lebanese Shiite party, whose armed wing has gotten involved in the conflict, by setting the goal of "affirming Lebanon's sovereignty". Hezbollah, although represented the Lebanese government is not at the head and is behind most of the strikes against Israel. Attacks to which Israel responds, when it does not initiate others. In this way, Emmanuel Macron says he wants to “allow the Lebanese to regain control of their destiny”. A sovereignty of Lebanon and its government that France wants to help guarantee. Arguing for a ceasefire, Emmanuel Macron indicated that once a truce has been negotiated, France will participate in a redeployment of 8,000 additional soldiers to Lebanon via UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. This military reinforcement must be “sufficiently robust, verifiable and operational so that everyone, in Lebanon, in Israel, at the United Nations, is convinced that the Lebanese State will effectively exercise its authority over the entire territory in the long term,” assured the French president. “There is no justification for it to be the object of any attacks whatsoever,” also regretted Emmanuel Macron. “The war must end as soon as possible” continued the head of state in a more general observation on the situation in the Middle East. “The war must not allow the forces of chaos to prevail in Lebanon or anywhere else in the region. “Therefore, we must cease fire and define without delay the measures that must be taken to re-establish lasting calm along the blue line and allow displaced populations in Lebanon and Israel to return to their homes in complete safety,” he finally added in conclusion of his speech.
Macron points more to Hezbollah than to Israel
By Teilor Stone
Teilor Stone has been a reporter on the news desk since 2013. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk. Before joining Thesaxon , Teilor Stone worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella. To get in touch, contact me through my teilor@nizhtimes.com 1-800-268-7116