The EU continues to confront the conflict in the Middle East with division. The 27 took more than 48 hours to agree on a common position condemning Israeli attacks against the UNIFIL peace mission in which 16 member states participate. On Sunday evening, the High Representative, Josep Borrell, achieved the required unanimity on foreign policy and issued a statement in which the tone against Israel was raised compared to previous texts by warning that the attacks against the peacekeepers constitute a violation of international law.
“They are completely unacceptable. The attacks must stop immediately,” says the EU, demanding an explanation from Israel and a “thorough investigation” into what happened. “We urge all parties to fully respect their obligations to ensure the security of UNIFIL personnel at all times and to enable UNIFIL to continue to fulfill its mandate,” reads the text on troops deployed to southern Lebanon.
“We are deeply concerned by the continued rocket fire into Israel by Hezbollah, which must stop, as well as attacks by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in densely populated areas of Lebanon, which are causing numerous civilian casualties. and cause numerous civilian casualties. displacement of many people. We urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law, in all circumstances,” the statement also said, reiterating the need for a ceasefire.
The 27 “strongly divided” on the arms embargo
“The situation in the Middle East continues to worsen,” warned Mr. Borrell before the meeting with EU foreign ministers this Monday in Luxembourg. “It is not the UN Secretary General who decides whether this mission remains or not, it is the Security Council which makes these kinds of decisions, so stop blaming António Guterres,” he added about Benjamin Netanyahu’s belligerence against the UN chief. United Nations, which he declared persona non grata.
“I would have liked to react more quickly to something that was obvious,” admitted the head of European diplomacy about the difficulty of reaching a common position.
Asked about the position of Pedro Sánchez and Emmanuel Macron on the implementation of an arms embargo against Israel, Borrell – who has previously applauded this position – admitted that member states “are strongly divided” and left this possibility in the hands of everyone. governments, since it is a “national competence”. For this measure to be taken throughout the EU, there would have to be unanimity, which seems impossible.
