Biden, Macron Call For 21-Day Ceasefire In Lebanon

• 26.09.2024, 8:54

The statement was released while the Israeli prime minister was flying to New York.

US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement on Thursday night, September 26, calling for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

The Channel 12 TV website reported this on Thursday morning, writes Details. ‘The time has come for an agreement on the border between Israel and Lebanon that will allow for the safe return of border residents to their homes,’ the joint statement said.

‘The exchanges of fire since October 7, and especially in recent weeks, have led to an intolerable situation on the border, and the risk of a global escalation has become unacceptable,’ the presidents further wrote. ‘No one is interested in such an escalation, neither the people of Israel nor the people of Lebanon. Over the past few days, we have been working on an agreement to reach a temporary ceasefire that will give diplomacy time to prevent further escalation on the border, on the basis of UNSC Resolution 1701 and Resolution 2735 (on a ceasefire in Syria).’

The statement was issued while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was flying to New York ahead of a speech from the floor of the UN General Assembly. It was backed by 11 countries and the European Union. Macron and Biden said they would fully support diplomatic efforts during the proposed ceasefire period ‘to end this crisis once and for all.’