On the evening of Monday 30 September, the High Representative of the Union, Josep Borrell, called on Member States to commit themselves to preserving state institutions, as Israeli strikes hit Beirut and a million Lebanese have already been displaced.
“This is the moment of truth for Lebanon, caught in the middle of the war”, he stressed at the end of an extraordinary informal EU Council of foreign ministers convened as a matter of urgency.
“The EU has to collectively commit to preserve its (Lebanon’s) state institutions (which are) at risk of collapsing”, added Mr Borrell. “All Lebanese leaders should now put the national interest first and work together to restore the institutions, in particular by electing a president or forming a government”, he stressed.
And if Israel targets Hezbollah leaders, this represents a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, added the High Representative, who said that “more than ever” the Lebanese armed forces were called upon to play an essential role as actors in national and regional stability.
“The state must have the monopoly on the use of violence, and this is a far cry from what is happening in Lebanon. The Lebanese armed forces, which are the core of Lebanese society and the state, must continue to play an essential role, and to do so they need our support”, he stressed. The High Representative announced that the EU, which has just adopted a €15 million support package for the Lebanese armed forces (see EUROPE 13489/8), could increase this support.
He also called on all Lebanese parties to contribute to strengthening the armed forces, saying he was ready to coordinate and facilitate international efforts as required.
The High Representative added that the EU and its Member States were ready to build on their ongoing support for the UN mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, to facilitate the accomplishment of its mission and strengthen its role in the framework of the UN Security Council resolutions.
And while Israel has reportedly informed Washington of “limited” ground operations in Lebanon, Mr Borrell reiterated the EU’s call for a ceasefire. “Arms should now be silent and the voice of diplomacy should speak and be heard by all”, stressed Mr Borrell. He explained that Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel had to stop and that any new military intervention would “considerably worsen” the situation and should be avoided. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)