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OPINION JANUARY 10, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10

French Response to

the Israel-Lebanon Conflict:

An Introspection into Swings in

France’s Israel Policy

The French foreign policy towards the Israel-Palestine issue has been a series of pendulum swings

between Israel and Palestine since 1948. France’s interest and influence in the West Asian region have

been shaped by its historical experiences in Lebanon, Syria and other countries in the region

AISHWARYA UPRETI

he ceasefire deal between Isra-
el and Hezbollah, halting the
Trecent conflict between Israel
and Hezbollah, was finally success-
fully reached on 27 November 2024
after tough negotiations. Israel’s in-
vasion of Lebanon in October 2024 to
neutralize Hezbollah had driven West
Asia deeper into crisis, with the death
toll in Lebanon reaching more than
3,800. The ceasefire was brokered by
both the US and France, the latter
was added as a mediator to the deal
only after it reversed and softened its
stance on arresting the Israeli Prime
Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, if he
visited France, in accordance with the
arrest warrant issued by the Interna-
tional Criminal Court for war crimes
in Gaza. This swing in French foreign
policy in the region is not new, and
France has always had shifts in its pol-
icy towards Israel. This paper seeks to
evaluate the reasons for oscillations In October 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the need for arms-exporting countries to contain Israeli actions
in French foreign policy in West Asia. in Lebanon (Agency file photo)
Determinants and Challenges
In October 2024, French Pres- carefully have a foot in both camps. shaped by its historical experiences an arms embargo on Israel during
ident Emmanuel Macron stressed This is why, after Israeli Prime Minis- in Lebanon, Syria and other coun- the war. France was the only major
the need for arms-exporting coun- ter Benjamin Netanyahu denounced tries in the region. French influence power that had an official pro-Ar-
tries to contain Israeli actions in President Macron’s statements about in West Asia had waned after the ab policy geared towards the Arab
Lebanon by calling for a halt to “de- an arms embargo as a “shame,” Ma- independence of Lebanon and Syria countries instead of a broader West
livering weapons to fight in Gaza.” cron’s office rushed to clarify and there, and former President Charles Asian policy.
However, France backtracked from reaffirm the steadfast nature of de Gaulle’s pro-Arab policy had Nevertheless, France has always
its obligations to arrest Netanyahu, French-Israeli friendship while ban- helped rectify it in at least Lebanon called for a two-state solution be-
as a signatory to the Rome Statute ning Israeli defense companies from as well as create goodwill with Saudi tween Israel and Palestine that would
of the International Criminal Court participating at the Euronaval Fair. Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and others be mutually beneficial. Coming to
(ICC), by invoking “immunity” for The French foreign policy to- by, for example, France’s support to French-Israeli relations, France was
the Prime Minister, as Israel is not an wards the Israel-Palestine issue has the Arabs in the 1967 Six Day War. one of the first countries in the world
ICC member. France’s stance on Is- been a series of pendulum swings De Gaulle’s pro-Arab, which lasted to recognize the state of Israel and
rael’s actions in Lebanon reflects an between Israel and Palestine since from 1958 to 1969, sided with Arab reportedly helped Israel develop its
aspiration to not only lead Europe in 1948. France’s interest and influence countries over Israel in Israel-Arab nuclear programme, being their main
diffusing tensions in West Asia but to in the West Asian region have been disputes. De Gaulle had imposed Continued on next page... >>

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