EU foreign ministers call for ‘immediate cessation of hostilities’

European Union foreign ministers today called on Israel and Hezbollah to agree to an “immediate cessation of hostilities” followed by international efforts to get agreement on a sustainable ceasefire.

The 25 EU ministers agreed to call for an urgent halt to the fighting, effective immediately.

Britain, Germany and the Czech Republic had earlier rejected a draft EU statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants, diplomats said.

The three nations, at the emergency talks, offered an alternative draft calling for an eventual “cessation of hostilities” – with no time frame given.

They rejected a tough draft drawn up by Finland, which currently holds the EU presidency which calls “for an immediate ceasefire”.

The Finnish draft included a strong warning to Israel that disregard for precautions to avoid loss of civilian life in Lebanon “constitutes a severe breach of international humanitarian law”.

This was altered by the three to an appeal to all parties “do everything possible to protect populations and to refrain from actions in violation of international law”.