A French diplomat has revealed to the Saudi media outlet Al Hadath that France and Italy are jointly advancing a peace initiative for Lebanon through the United Nations Security Council, even as U.S.-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon continue separately. According to the French official, the European-led plan is being fast-tracked through UN channels.
The two European countries have been consultating with other Security Council member states in an effort to build support for their proposal, the diplomat said. These discussions are taking place alongside (but not necessarily in coordination with) the American-led effort to broker a direct agreement between Lebanon and Israel through White House mediation. It remains unclear whether the Franco-Italian plan includes any provisions for dismantling Hezbollah, though sources familiar with the process say its primary objective is "the immediate preservation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
While the United States holds veto power over any Security Council resolution and could block any proposal that conflicts with its position, the creation of an alternative diplomatic track with potentially more favorable terms, which certain Lebanese factions might find easier to accept, could still have practical consequences even without formal Security Council enforcement.
The parallel initiative risks undermining Lebanese motivation to reach a deal through the U.S.-mediated process, or creating internal divisions within Lebanon's leadership that prevent a clear decision on which diplomatic path to pursue. This could once again push the issue of Hezbollah's disarmament off the international agenda, similar to what happened after Security Council Resolution 1701 after the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
