French President Emmanuel Macron asserted on Monday that no form of occupation or settlement can guarantee security, referring to Israeli military operations in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking at the inauguration of an exhibition dedicated to the ancient Lebanese city of Byblos (Jbeil) at the Arab World Institute in Paris, Macron emphasized: "Neither occupation nor any form of settlement—not in Lebanon, the West Bank, nor anywhere else—can guarantee the security of anyone."
"In an era of religious discord, where some seek to push us toward escalating wars, and others try to convince us that security is only achieved by invading a feared neighbor, Lebanon reminds us of one thing: the power of universality," Macron added, highlighting the "force of international law."
The Regional Context
These remarks come amidst the escalating U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which has impacted Lebanon since early March. Israeli airstrikes and ground incursions have resulted in at least 1,039 deaths, according to official Lebanese statistics.
Regarding the humanitarian crisis, the French President:
Reiterated the necessity of restoring full humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Renewed his call to pursue the political path toward the recognition of the State of Palestine, expressing hope that the international community would follow France's lead.
Cultural Resilience: The Byblos Exhibition
Macron toured the exhibition, which features approximately 400 artifacts from Byblos, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. He noted that the exhibit tells a story of "Lebanon's destiny" and its "resistance to empires," standing as a testament "against the war" that complicated the transport of many pieces to Paris.
Sarkis El Khoury, Director General of Antiquities at the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, oversaw the transport of two shipments of artworks from Beirut to Paris in February. He noted that preparations were "fraught with challenges" due to the wartime conditions imposed on the logistics of moving these ancient treasures.
