On Monday 23 September, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, expressed concern about the situation in Lebanon and northern Israel at the end of an informal meeting of European foreign ministers in New York. On Tuesday, Israeli strikes continued, including on the outskirts of Beirut.
This situation “is extremely dangerous and worrying”, stressed the High Representative. “We are almost in a full-fledged war”, he warned. And he went on to question: “In less than a week, 4,400 people are wounded and almost 500 killed. If this is not a war situation, you will tell me how do you call it”.
The High Representative regretted that civilians were paying an “intolerable, unacceptable price” and that hundreds of thousands of people had been displaced on both sides of the border.
Mr Borrell said he hoped that the week of the UN General Assembly would provide an opportunity to develop diplomatic efforts. “A full-blown war must be averted, including by renewing intense diplomatic mediation efforts. Here in New York, it is the moment to do that”, he stressed.
France has called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council.
“We need peace in the Middle East. Escalation is a danger for the whole region. The path towards peace starts with a single step: a ceasefire in Gaza and the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006. Almost 20 years ago”, he added.
Support for the Lebanese armed forces. In a legal act published on 24 September in the Official Journal of the EU, the Union also decided to grant assistance worth €15 million to the Lebanese armed forces under the European Peace Facility.
The aim is to help strengthen the capabilities of these forces in order to “enhance Lebanon’s national security, stability and resilience”.
In concrete terms, the assistance measure is intended to support the strengthening of the capacities of military medical, technical and logistics commands, with medical and support equipment for medical structures, engineering equipment and non-lethal personal equipment and supplies for military personnel. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)