(16 Aug 2024)
RESTRICTIO NSUMMARY:
AGENCY POOL
Jerusalem – 16 August 2024
1. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne arriving for joint statements
2. SOUNDBITE (French) Stephane Sejourné, French Foreign Minister:
“This joint trip is very well identified, it’s to send messages to all the players in the region for de-escalation. In a few days, we’ll be at a key moment in this conflict, which has gone on for far too long. With (UK Foreign Secretary) David (Lammy) and the whole delegation, we have passed on messages to those who are discussing today in Doha, with the aim of achieving a sincere commitment in the negotiations to finally obtain a cease-fire and a negotiation on the hostages. Then to pass very, very clear messages both to the Israelis, to the Israeli government, both to Hezbollah – yesterday I was in Lebanon – and to the Iranian side to avoid escalation in the region and avoid war.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Stephane Sejourné, French Foreign Minister:
“Any act that destabilizes a process of negotiation, discussion and conclusion of an agreement, particularly on the cease-fire, is unacceptable, and even more so in these times. As you know, the European Union has taken sanctions against violent settlers in the West Bank, as has France. We are vigilant and attentive, and we denounce this situation. In any case, we must be vigilant, because the few days of talks today are key, and any signals that might be sent would be very negative for the conclusion of a cease-fire agreement."
++BLACK FRAMES++
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Stephane Sejourné, French Foreign Minister:
“It would be unseemly of me to come here and talk about preparation, Israeli retaliation, even defensiveness, when we’re working towards a diplomatic agreement. Diplomacy must work now. Diplomatic discussions must take place now, and we are working to avoid this Iranian response. The messages have gone out in that direction.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Stephane Sejourné, French Foreign Minister:
“David (Lammy) and I have sent very clear messages to all the delegations taking part in the discussions. This is a key moment, because it could lead to peace or war. And we want diplomacy to work for peace. This is also the purpose of our joint visit here, so that the message is clear.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
6. Lammy and Sejourné leaving room
STORYLINE:
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourné said on Friday that international efforts for de-escalation are crucial as the Middle East faces a "key moment" with cease-fire talks continuing in Qatar.
Séjourné and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy are on a joint trip in Jerusalem while internationally mediated cease-fire talks in Qatar were expected to enter their second day.
The new push for an end to the Israel-Hamas war came as the Palestinian death toll in Gaza climbed past 40,000, according to Gaza health authorities, and fears remained high that Iran and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon would attack Israel in retaliation for the killings of top militant leaders.
"Diplomacy must work now. Diplomatic discussions must take place now, and we are working to avoid this Iranian response. The messages have gone out in that direction," said Séjourné.
He added that him and Lammy are hoping for "a sincere commitment" to cease-fire talks in Qatar.
Lammy and Séjourné held a joint meeting earlier with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Separately, Séjourné condemned the deadly settler rampage in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on late Thursday.
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