Qana airstrike polarises EU debate

Europe’s foreign ministers will debate calls for an “immediate” ceasefire in Lebanon amid condemnation of Israel’s bombing of Qana.

Israel’s attack on the Lebanese village killed over 50 people, including 30 children, and has led to a 48-hour suspension of air strikes.

On the international political front, the casualties have amplified calls for an immediate ceasefire and emphasised EU divisions.

The immediate ceasefire demand has been rejected by Israel, resisted in capitals such Washington and London but taken up by Paris and the Helsinki EU presidency.

Europe’s foreign ministers will discuss Qana and the immediate ceasefire call on Tuesday, just one day before the UN security council seeks a resolution.

Divisions

Divisions appear to exist between key European players, and UN security council members, the UK and France.

France is calling for an immediate ceasefire and Paris has its own UN resolution.

French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, visiting the Lebanon on Monday, is arguing that the Qana killings could have been avoided if the UK, US and others had heeded calls.

“The Qana tragedy must be strongly condemned. If our appeal had been heard during the last days, human lives could have been saved in Qana,” he said in a Monday interview with Le Figaro.

“These events strengthen our determination to demand the immediate stop of hostilities. This is a turning point in the Lebanon crisis.”

French diplomacy

The fallout from Qana echoes events ten years ago after an Israeli bombardment of the village on April 18 1996 killed 102 people.

The 1996 casualties then hastened the end of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and the 2006 deaths will put Tel Aviv under huge pressure.

In another interview, quoted in the New York Times, Douste-Blazy highlighted transatlantic differences between Paris and Washington – and US allies in London or Berlin.

“What distinguishes us from our American partners is that we have been demanding from the start an immediate cessation of hostilities, the only condition for there to be a negotiation, then a political accord and a sustainable cease-fire,” he said.

'No justification'

Following the Qana casualties US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cancelled a Monday trip to Lebabon’s capital Beirut giving France a diplomatic lead.

French president Jacques Chirac, just hours after Rice’s cancellation, sent Douste-Blazy on lightening visit to Beirut, signalling Paris intentions to take the lead at Tuesday’s EU meeting of foreign ministers.

The Finnish EU presidency has hardened its language ahead of the emergency meeting of Europe’s foreign ministers called last week.

“There is no justification for attacks causing casualties among innocent civilians, most of whom were women and children.”

“The fact that the residents had been warned and called upon to leave the area does not justify this tragic event as Israel had rejected the 72-hour cessation of hostilities called for by the UN.”

“The presidency reiterates its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities,” said a Sunday statement.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana also echoed the tone of condemnation and swung Europe behind the immediate ceasefire call.

“I have expressed… my profound dismay and deep sorrow at the attack and the death of innocent civilians in Qana. Nothing can justify that,” he said in a statement.

“I have transmitted to [Lebanon] that the EU is continuously working to reach an immediate ceasefire.”

Ceasefire - but not yet

The EU’s tough new emphasis appears markedly different from a joint London and Berlin statement made on Sunday.

“The tragic events of today have underlined the urgency of the need for a ceasefire as soon as possible,” said the statement.

UK leader Tony Blair – along with the US – has stressed the importance of finding UN agreement on the latest Lebanon conflict.

“Everyone is going to have to exercise the maximum restraint and maximum pressure and will to get the UN security council resolution agreed,” he said.

“There is a chance, there is a will and I think the elements of this package can be agreed as quickly as we can and get the situation forward towards where we can see an end to the hostilities.”

A UN security council statement at the weekend expressed “extreme shock and distress” but fell short of demanding an immediate ceasefire – regarded by Israel as surrender to Islamist Hizbollah militants.

“The security council affirms its determination to work without any further delay to adopt a resolution for a lasting settlement of the crisis, drawing on diplomatic efforts underway,” said the statement.

France has offered to provide troops for a UN peace-keeping force in the region and troops could follow a Wednesday security council resolution.

“France is ready to take part in an international force, if a political agreement is met,” Douste-Blazy said on Monday.

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