Macron hosts Lebanon’s PM as Beirut appeals for €500 million in aid

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French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Élysée Palace on Tuesday, as Beirut appealed for €500 million in humanitarian aid and both sides prepared for US-hosted negotiations later this week. The meeting came amid a fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that both sides accuse each other of violating.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Salam said Lebanon would need €500 million over the next six months to address the fallout from the conflict, according to multiple outlets. The Lebanese authorities have put the death toll from six weeks of fighting at more than 2,450 dead and over 7,600 wounded, as reported by RFI and Dawn.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the meeting varied across outlets, with each emphasizing different aspects of the discussions. France 24 and RFI, both with a European perspective, focused on Macron's dual message of supporting Lebanon's stability while insisting that Hezbollah must be disarmed. The Jerusalem Post highlighted France's role in strengthening Lebanon's negotiating position, while Dawn, with a South Asian perspective, led with the humanitarian appeal and Lebanese warnings of resistance if Israeli forces remain.

All five outlets covered the ceasefire and the upcoming US-hosted talks, but they diverged on the central attribution of the conflict's causes. France 24 and the Jerusalem Post placed more emphasis on Hezbollah's actions, while RFI and Dawn stressed Israel's military operations and territorial ambitions in southern Lebanon.

Key Claims

• Lebanon needs €500 million in aid: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam made the appeal during the press conference, stating the funds are needed over the next six months to address the humanitarian crisis. Multiple sources, including Dawn, RFI, and France 24, reported this claim.

• Macron pledges help for negotiations: The French president said France would help Lebanese authorities prepare for negotiations with Israel, even if Paris is not directly involved in the talks. According to a French presidency official, "France is one of the countries capable of playing a very concrete role in strengthening the Lebanese government's hand." This was reported by the Jerusalem Post and Dawn.

• US to host ambassador-level talks: The United States will host ambassador-level discussions between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, as reported by multiple outlets. It remains unclear whether the objective is to extend the ceasefire or pave the way for deeper negotiations.

• Israel aims to create a buffer zone: Israeli troops occupy territory deep in southern Lebanon, aiming to create a buffer zone to shield northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks, according to the Jerusalem Post and Dawn. Hezbollah maintains the "right to resist" Israeli occupation, as quoted in those reports.

• UN Security Council condemned attack on French peacekeeper: The 15-member body condemned an attack on Saturday that killed a French peacekeeper in Lebanon, calling for those responsible to "be brought to justice without delay." This was reported solely by France 24, which also noted that Macron and the UN accused Hezbollah of being behind the attack.

• Belgian FM calls Israel's conduct 'totally unacceptable': Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot described Israel's actions in Lebanon as "totally unacceptable," according to Dawn's report.

• Lebanese speaker warns of resistance: Lebanon's parliament speaker warned that Israeli forces occupying parts of the country's south would face resistance if they fail to withdraw, as reported by multiple outlets.

Perspectives

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which came into effect on Friday, remains delicate. Macron struck what RFI described as a "firm but balanced tone," urging Israel to "renounce its territorial ambitions" in Lebanon while insisting that Hezbollah must stop firing into Israeli territory and be disarmed "by the Lebanese themselves." He also called for a broader agreement that would guarantee the security of both countries, potentially paving the way for normalization of relations.

Salam said Lebanon was seeking the "complete withdrawal" of Israeli forces from its territory, alongside the return of prisoners and displaced civilians, as part of the talks set to resume in Washington later this week.

French officials have taken a more measured tone on the ground situation, with the Élysée describing the Israeli military's "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon as "temporary," stopping short of calling for its immediate removal.

Hebollah, meanwhile, maintains its right to resist Israeli occupation, and the group is a key actor in the ceasefire's sustainability. The ceasefire's fragility is underscored by mutual accusations of violations and ongoing attacks, including the one that killed the French peacekeeper.

International actors are positioning themselves: France is leveraging its historical ties with Lebanon to support Beirut, while the US is convening talks. Belgium has voiced strong criticism of Israel's conduct, and the UN Security Council has called for accountability in the peacekeeper's death. The coming days will test whether the ceasefire can hold and whether the negotiations in Washington can translate into a more durable arrangement.