BRUSSELS — The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, called on Israel on Tuesday to support a proposed cease-fire agreement in Lebanon, asserting that the deal includes “all the necessary security guarantees” for Israel.
Speaking at a G7 Foreign Ministers meeting, Mr. Borrell insisted there was no justification for delaying the agreement with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, and urged international pressure on Israel to approve the proposal promptly.
U.S. pushes for truce amid escalating violence
The United States has been intensively lobbying for a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel, although progress remains incomplete. “We believe that we have narrowed the gaps significantly, but there are still steps that we need to see taken,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday.
Signs of a potential breakthrough emerged as four senior Lebanese officials indicated that President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron might announce a truce within 36 hours. However, Mr. Miller cautioned that while progress had been made, “an agreement has not yet been achieved.”
The proposed cease-fire aims to end the conflict that erupted in October 2023, paralleling Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Hostilities in Lebanon have escalated sharply in recent weeks, with heavy Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah-controlled neighborhoods in southern Beirut as part of an offensive launched in September.
The intensifying violence has drawn global calls for de-escalation, with European leaders emphasizing the humanitarian and security stakes. Mr. Borrell’s remarks reflected the EU’s broader push for diplomatic solutions to the twin conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, highlighting concerns over regional stability and civilian casualties.
The situation remains precarious, with no formal agreement reached as diplomatic efforts intensify to bring an end to the cross-border violence.
