Israeli army must 'completely withdraw' south of Blue Line: Lebanese, French foreign ministers

By Nur Asena Erturk

The Israeli army must completely withdraw behind the UN-designated border Blue Line, the Lebanese and French foreign ministers have agreed, according to an official statement.

France’s Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his Lebanese counterpart Youssef Rajji discussed the situation in the Middle East on the sidelines of the International Conference on Syria in Paris on Thursday, the French Foreign Ministry said.

“The ministers stressed the need for the Israeli army to completely withdraw to the south of the Blue Line according to the agreed calendar, and for the effective deployment of the Lebanese forces in that area, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions,” the statement read.

The Blue Line is a demarcation border that separates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights that was established by the UN in 2000.

Israel was supposed to complete the army’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26 under the ceasefire deal, but it refused and the deadline was extended to Feb. 18.