Czech Republic blocks joint EU statement urging 'immediate cease-fire' in Lebanon

By Ebad Ahmed

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AA) – The Czech Republic prevented the EU from releasing a unified response calling for an “immediate cease-fire” between Israel and Hezbollah, forcing the bloc’s foreign policy chief to release a statement on his own, according to media reports.

Prague blocked a joint EU statement scheduled to be released on Tuesday evening that called for an “immediate cease-fire” between Israel and Hezbollah and condemned the number of civilians killed in Lebanon, according to Euronews.

“(We) could support the text with two proposals for modifications that were put forward, but other member states could not take them on board," Euronews quoted a Czech spokesperson as saying.

“Firstly, we advocated to add into the text the necessity of Hezbollah to withdraw from the Israeli border. Secondly, the text was too restrictive when it comes to the right of Israel to defend itself.”

Subsequently, in view of the internal discord within the bloc, EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell released a statement on his own.

"We deplore the many civilian casualties in Lebanon, the destruction of civilian infrastructure with related long-term implications, and the high number of internally displaced persons on both sides, and once again urge the respect of International Humanitarian Law in all circumstances," Borrell said.

"Arms should now be silenced and the voice of diplomacy should speak and be heard by all. The EU fears that "any further military intervention would dramatically aggravate the situation" in the Middle East,” he added.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria are Europe’s strongest allies of Israel and have recently blocked collective actions that are considered to be critical of Israeli military action in Palestine and abroad.