Macron pledges €100M for Lebanon aid

PARIS  —  France will give €100 million to support Lebanon and assist the more than 1 million people displaced by the recent Israeli invasion, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday at the opening of an international conference on the country.

The French president also called for the war to “end as soon as possible” in southern Lebanon, where the Israel Defense Forces are attempting to dismantle the Hezbollah militant group through a combination of airstrikes and ground operations.

Senior officials from 70 countries and international organizations have gathered in Paris to discuss ways to help Lebanon, a former French protectorate whose history has been marred by war, corruption, internal political strife and economic malaise. The situation has been particularly dire since the 2020 explosion at an ammunition factory in Beirut, the capital, which killed more than 200 people and caused an estimated $15 billion worth of property damage.

Macron said France’s donation goes toward a target of €500 million set for the conference. He added that the massive injection of cash was needed to take care of those who have fled the fighting, many from southern Lebanon, and to prevent infighting between locals and the displaced population.

Macron used his speech to blame both Israel and Hezbollah’s regional backer Iran for the plight of the Lebanese. He called on Hezbollah to “cease its provocations” whether these were attacks against Netanyahu’s home or “indiscriminate attacks” on Israel.

He also called on Israel to accept a cease-fire with Hezbollah, adding that “Israel knows its military successes do not lead to victory” in Lebanon, referencing Israel’s multiple invasions of its neighbor. Macron has also called for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

While Macron took aim at Israel, Iran and Lebanon’s divided leaders during his speech, his position on the Middle East has been hard to follow since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel led by Hamas.

The French president and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have also traded barbs recently over Israel’s refusal to move toward a cease-fire.