Macron, Israeli leaders warn Hezbollah against joining war
French President Emmanuel Macron who visited Israel on Tuesday said Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran itself and the Houtis in Yemen, among others, must not take the risk of opening a new front.
Macron said he warned “potential terrorist groups" to stay out of the fight, and “clearly warned Hezbollah with direct messages.”
The French president aims to continue efforts “to avoid a dangerous escalation in the region,” the Elysee said, amid border tension between Israel and Hezbollah.
During his meeting with Macron, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that Israel warned Iran is "playing with fire" in Lebanon.
"If Hezbollah will drag us into war, it should be clear that Lebanon will pay the price. Lebanon cannot be a sovereign member of the international community, its citizens carrying a Lebanese passport, but when it comes to attacking Israel, they are not responsible," Herzog said.
Macron later met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned Hezbollah from joining the conflict, saying the group has embedded itself among the civilian population in Lebanon much as Hamas has done in Gaza.
Macron is due to meet with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid and now-minister in the emergency war cabinet Benny Gantz. He will also travel to the West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. There will also probably be exchanges with King Abdullah II of Jordan, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and leaders of Gulf nations, the Elysee said.
Source: Naharnet
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