Borrell’s call for ceasefire ignores Hezbollah’s threat to regional stability

During his visit to Beirut on Sunday, Josep Borrell, the European Union's top diplomat, called for an "immediate ceasefire" between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, describing the country as being "on the brink of collapse."

"We see only one possible path: an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701," Borrell stated after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah. Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006, brought an end to the previous war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Shiite group.

Speaking to journalists, Borrell said, "In September, I visited Lebanon, still hoping we could prevent an open war between Israel and Lebanon. Two months later, Lebanon is on the verge of collapse."

Borrell’s comments, particularly his reference to an "open war between Israel and Lebanon," have drawn criticism for misrepresenting the nature of the ongoing conflict. Contrary to his assertion, Israel is not at war with Lebanon but is conducting a military operation against Hezbollah, an EU-designated terrorist organization.

Since October 8, 2023, Hezbollah has launched repeated attacks on Israeli territory, forcing over 80,000 Israeli residents to evacuate from the northern border region. These provocations prompted Israel's military response targeting Hezbollah's positions and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, often described as a state within a state, has dominated Lebanon’s political and military landscape for decades. Backed and financed by Iran, the group operates independently of the Lebanese government, maintaining a heavily armed militia and engaging in actions that destabilize the region.

Far from defending Lebanon’s sovereignty, Hezbollah's actions have placed the country's population at risk. Many Lebanese citizens view the group as holding their nation hostage, prioritizing its allegiance to Tehran over the well-being of the Lebanese people.

While Hezbollah claims to represent Lebanon’s interests, a significant portion of the Lebanese population hopes that Israel’s military intervention will weaken the militia’s stranglehold on the country. The group’s actions have exacerbated Lebanon's already severe economic and political crises, leaving its citizens yearning for relief from decades of instability.

Borrell’s Partisan Approach

Josep Borrell’s tenure as the EU’s foreign policy chief, which concludes at the end of the year, has been marked by repeated criticisms of Israel. His comments in Beirut, framing the situation as an "open war against Lebanon," reflect a partisan stance that fails to acknowledge Hezbollah’s provocations and its role in escalating tensions.

The reality on the ground paints a different picture. Israel's actions are focused on neutralizing a terrorist organization that has endangered not only Israeli lives but also Lebanon’s future. A narrative that equates Israel’s defensive operations with aggression against an entire nation distorts the truth and undermines efforts to address the root cause of the conflict: Hezbollah’s unchecked power.