The US and France will propose a three-week cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon as part of a bid to clear the way for negotiations and avert all-out war in the Middle East.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said details of the proposal would be announced soon and he planned to travel to Beirut by the end of the week. He announced the plan at a United Nations Security Council meeting where diplomats gathered to discuss the conflict.
“We are counting on both parties to accept it without delay in order to protect civilian populations and allow for diplomatic negotiations to begin,” said Barrot, whose country maintains open lines of communication with Hezbollah.
People familiar with the matter said earlier that the Biden administration and its allies were working with Israeli officials with the intention of forging a political settlement between Israel and the Iran-backed group.
The effort’s goal is to prevent a major war from breaking out, create the conditions for tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return to their country’s north and help revive efforts for a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.
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