Jerusalem, April 13 -- Sidelining France completely from the negotiations with Lebanon, Israeli officials dismissed that Paris could have any role whatsoever in mediating between Jerusalem and Beirut, sharply calling France "irrelevant" as far as the matter was concerned.
"There is no French involvement whatsoever," one Israeli official told Times Of Israel, bluntly dismissing any suggestion that Paris might play a role in the talks. Pressed on why, the response was equally direct: "They are unnecessary."A second official echoing the sentiment, said that while there had been "some discussion" about including France, Israel had from the outset considered it "not relevant" to reaching an agreement with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, against...