It is the first time since the last outbreak in the Middle East, caused by the Hamas attack against Israel a year ago, that the 27 Member States have reached a unanimous agreement to condemn the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Government in the region. Specifically, the foreign ministers of the European Union have criticized “totally unacceptable” the attacks by the Israeli Army against the UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which they say “constitute a serious violation of international law.” “These attacks must stop immediately,” reads the statementwhich has been signed even by Israel’s closest allies, such as the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary.
However, the head of community diplomacy, Josep Borrellhas regretted that this condemnation of Israel’s attacks against UNIFIL “it has cost too much”. Negotiations on the text of the declaration began late last week, but unanimous agreement was not reached until late Sunday night. Borrell has once again regretted the “important divisions” that exist between Member States on issues such as applying an arms embargo on Israel (an idea defended by France or Spain), which makes EU policy in the region totally ineffective.
“I wish we could have approved the statement faster. It took too long to say something that is quite obvious. It is quite obvious that we should be against the Israeli attacks against UNIFIL, especially because our soldiers are there, many European soldiers are there. So I would appreciate if the Member States were able to reach an agreement on that more quickly,” Borrell lamented.
Over the weekend, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahuhas demanded the withdrawal of the UN blue helmets from southern Lebanon, whom he has described as “human shields” of the terrorist organization Hezbollah. Borrell has responded to him to stop attacking the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterresbecause the decision of whether UNIFIL withdraws or stays does not correspond to him personally but to the Security Council.
Also the Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albareshas considered unacceptable “the attacks by Israel and the fire that has been opening on UNIFIL troops in recent days.” “This must stop. It is contrary to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, whose decision led to the deployment of UNIFIL. It is contrary to what we expect from any Member State of the United Nations, which is an organ that ensures global peace and security. These acts are contrary to international humanitarian law,” said Albares.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, talks with his Irish counterpart during the meeting this Monday in Luxembourg
The Foreign Minister has assured that the 650 Spanish blue helmets deployed in UNIFIL “are currently well.” In his opinion, the UN forces (which total 10,000 soldiers from 50 countries) continue to carry out “valid and necessary work in these times of war.” Soldiers “continue to occupy positions that are essential to allow that there is not a confrontation even greater than the one that is taking place right now,” he said.
In the declaration signed by the 27 Member States, the EU “condemns all attacks against United Nations missions” and “expresses particularly serious concern about the attacks by the Israel Defense Forces against UNIFIL, which left several soldiers injured”. “These attacks against United Nations soldiers constitute a serious violation of international law and are totally unacceptable. These attacks must stop immediately,” the text continues.
“We urgently await explanations and a thorough investigation by the Israeli authoritiess about the attacks against UNIFIL, which plays a fundamental role in the stability of southern Lebanon,” the foreign ministers claim.
The 27 also express their concern about “Hezbollah’s continued rocket fire against Israelwhich must stop, and the attacks by the Israel Defense Forces in densely populated areas of Lebanon, causing large numbers of civilian casualties and the displacement of many people. “The EU reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and for all parties to commit and work towards the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701,” the statement concludes.
The EU foreign ministers, during their meeting this Monday in Luxembourg
Both Borrell and Albares have also criticized the Israeli bombings of Gaza refugee camps and hospitalsas well as the lack of access of humanitarian aid to the Strip. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has proposed new sanctions against violent West Bank settlers and two extremist ministers in Netanyahu’s government.
“The level of humanitarian aid, measured by the number of trucks entering Gaza, is at the lowest level since the start of the war. Famine is being used as a weapon of war. 400,000 people have been asked to move again from the north to the south. From south to north and from north to south. These people are exhausted, they can’t move again. And it seems that the war is going to continue in Lebanon,” Borrell denounced.
For his part, Albares has once again called for the urgent convening of a Peace Conference to put the two-state solution into practice and has asked to avoid further escalation. “We don’t want this war to become a total war and that involves even more actors,” said the Spanish minister.
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