Borrell warns Israel and Hezbollah tensions near a ‘full-fledged war’

The escalating conflict between Israel and Lebanon is on the brink of a full-fledged war, Josep Borrell has warned, adding that strong diplomatic mediation efforts are required to avert the path to war.  

The EU foreign policy chief made the comments following the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

This year’s high-level general debate is centred around the theme: “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations”.

‘Civilians paying an intolerable, unacceptable price.’

Borrell said the attacks are both targeted and random: “targeted because of the purpose and random because of the consequences”.

He added that he condemns the attacks as civilians are paying an “unacceptable price”.

On Sunday, 500 people were killed and 4,400 people injured in Israeli airstrikes, according to Borrell. He said that the number of casualties suggests that there is no consideration for the civilian impact of the strikes.

The risk of escalation is a danger to the whole region, according to Borrell, and the path towards peace starts with a ceasefire in Gaza and the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It calls for the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Borrell critiqued the Security Council’s failure to implement the resolution until this day, which was originally adopted in 2006.

“Almost 20 years ago [and] I am still asking for the implementation of this resolution,” he said, expressing concern that the Security Council risks losing legitimacy. “Because either they don’t agree on anything, or when they agree it’s not implemented.”

Compromise, but not on core values

Ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola vouched for multilateralism in a changing world that she says is facing an “ever-increasing fragmentation in politics and communities”.

She added that the European Parliament must re-learn how to compromise, without compromising its core values, and said this is essential to finding common ground.

“In the European Parliament, we have 720 members who belong to groups across the political spectrum,” she said at the 2024 Concordia annual global affairs summit. “I can tell you it often feels impossible, but we find ways, we build majorities not by entrenchment, not by breaching an abstract terms, but by seeking common ground through compromise.”

Metsola referred to both the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, and said political cooperation is crucial to push towards peace.

War in Ukraine

On the war in Ukraine, Borrell said he believes that Russia has been receiving arms from Iran, particularly missiles. He stressed concern over the fact that these have been nearing, and in some case entering, European Union member states’ space.

The EU diplomat applauded Ukraine for its successful efforts in striking and destroying important depots of ammunition deep into Russian territory, and said that the G7 will continue to discuss Kyiv’s potential use of long-range weapons in the upcoming week.

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Borrell said he had been clear about his position on the matter, and that he is in favour of the use of long-range weapons against Russia. “Not everybody is support in this position. But let’s see what is the position at the end of the week,” he added.

Borrell emphasised that Ukraine needs the European Union’s support more than ever, especially regarding the energy situation in Ukraine, highlighting that “Russia wants to put Ukraine into the dark and the cold” as winter approaches.

“In order to support Ukraine we have made at the Commission a proposal to raise up to €35 billion alone to support Ukraine, both military and economically,” he said. “And both these have to be done at the same time. It doesn’t make sense to provide you with an electricity generator today if it has to be destroyed tomorrow.”

Additional sources • EBU