French Sources: Lebanon Must Prepare for Negotiations Over South Lebanon After Gaza War Ends

French sources informed the Lebanese media that the country's current lack of an elected President cannot continue, and that the fate of Southern Lebanon and UN Resolution 1701 will be part of the negotiations after the war in Gaza ends.

According to Lebanese news portal Naharnet, French sources spoke to two Lebanese newspapers, An-Nahar and al-Liwaa, saying that the current absence of an elected President for Lebanon puts the country at a disadvantage and cannot continue.

The sources said such an elected leader would be needed for the negotiations at the expected end of the war in Gaza, which the sources said would also include discussion of the southern Lebanese border.

Negotiations would also include discussion of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which includes the demand for full Lebanese government control of the south, the disarmament of all groups not belonging to the Lebanese government (presumably including Hezbollah), and full respect for the "Blue Line" border established after Israel withdrew from south Lebanon in 2000.