The Czech Republic has vetoed a communiqué that the European Union wanted to release urging the sides in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to cease hostilities, ‘Without Delay’. The blocked statement also criticized the increasing number of civilian death in Lebanon.
Along with Hungary and Austria, the Czech Republic is one of the EU nations most supportive of Israel and that have recently called for EU stances seen as critical of the Israeli government to be toned down.
The Czech government spokesperson stated that they could have agreed to the statement if two proposed changes were included: One was pointing out that Hezbollah should get out of the Israeli border, and two they should tone down what they considered unnecessarily paring down Israel’s right to defend itself.
The EU members have not been able to agree on a joint declaration, and its chief, Josep Borrell had to issue an individual statement to call for the respect of the international humanitarian law and to express the anguish that the conflict has brought to the region. Borrell urged that weapons must be made to stop and diplomacy be put first.
The split within the EU came shortly after Israeli forces launched an invasion into southern Lebanon, their first big push in the country since 2006. This invasion, the state claimed, was because of Hezbollah’s attack in support of Hamas which effectively compounded the violence in the region.
Overall, the threat of a more general Middle Eastern conflict is felt in Europe, but the EU has failed to develop a common approach to the actions of Israel and the Palestinians.
