Prime Minister Yair Lapid met a short while ago in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. It was Lapid’s first official trip outside of Israel since taking office on June 30. The trip to Paris was scheduled a while ago, intended for then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Upon taking over as premier, Lapid was keen to maintain this rendezvous with Macron, whom he reportedly considers a personal friend.

Lapid’s visit to the French capital was very short at four hours. He arrived in a chartered airplane accompanied by national security adviser Eyal Hulata. On his arrival at the Charles de Gaulle airport, he was greeted by the French Foreign Ministry head of protocol, French Ambassador to Israel Eric Danon and Israel’s envoy in France Yael German, who is also a close friend of Lapid. German had joined Lapid’s Yesh Atid party ahead of the 2013 elections and then served as health minister between 2013 and 2014. Lapid appointed German ambassador in his capacity of foreign minister.

Before embarking, Lapid commented on the possible nuclear deal with Iran and to drones recently sent by Hezbollah to an Israeli natural gas rig, saying, "We are presenting a united stance before the international community. A large part of the trip will be devoted to the nuclear deal with Iran. We will also address the repeated attacks on Israeli gas rigs. Israel will not agree to this type of attack on its sovereignty. Lebanon must restrain Hezbollah."

Reports read that Lapid planned to ask Macron to relay a message to Lebanon that Israel will not negotiate its maritime border while under threat from Hezbollah.