French president, Israeli interim premier discuss Iran nuclear deal, Hezbollah

PARIS/ANKARA (AA) – France’s President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Israeli interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday for discussions about the Iran nuclear deal, Lebanese group Hezbollah, as well as the current tensions over Israel’s maritime border with Lebanon.

It is Lapid’s first trip to France after he took over as premier a week ago in light of the collapse of the coalition government of his predecessor Naftali Bennett.

Particularly up for discussion for Lapid was the attempt by Hezbollah to fly three surveillance drones toward an oil rig in the Karish gas field placed in ocean territory contested between Israel and Lebanon. Israel shot the drones down.

The oceanic swathe lies south of Beirut and north of Haifa, stretching into the eastern Mediterranean. Hezbollah claims the territory.

Lapid is seeking France’s backing as he settles into his new role. France was once the administrator for Lebanon, appointed as such by the League of Nations just after World War II with the partition of the Ottoman Empire. Although no longer part of their colonial empire, Lebanon maintains close ties to France.

According to French news outlet Radio France International, Macron will also be discussing the tougher timeline Lapid seeks in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. France is among several world powers trying to revive the deal with the Trump administration squashed. Israel deems that the caps in place in the deal are insufficient.

Macron also spoke on the Israeli-Palestinian situation and the need to continue communication.