Following the shelling of UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) in Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects accusations that Israel acted deliberately. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) emphasized on Monday evening that he is not calling for the withdrawal of the blue helmets for the time being.
The Israeli army is doing its best to avoid harming UNIFIL personnel as Israel attacks Hezbollah fighters, Netanyahu said. “But the best way to guarantee the safety of UNIFIL personnel is for UNIFIL to heed Israel’s request and temporarily withdraw from the danger zone.” According to Germany, the Israeli attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon violate international humanitarian law. That must have stopped immediately.
In a joint statement with Italy, Britain and France, Berlin emphasized their “indispensable stabilizing role” in the region. Israel and other parties must guarantee the safety of peacekeepers at all times.
Schallenberg: “The situation is extremely dangerous”
According to its own information, the Austrian Armed Forces currently has a contingent of approximately 160 UNIFIL soldiers. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) emphasized on Monday evening in “ZiB 2” in a broadcast from Luxembourg that his work is currently almost desperately difficult: the situation is extremely dangerous. We maintain active contact with the embassies in Israel and Lebanon. Austria has clearly stated its position towards Israel: protecting UN soldiers is a clear duty.
However, Schallenberg does not simply want to agree with the assessment of UN Secretary General António Guterres and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that these are war crimes. “I am careful,” he emphasizes. This term is thrown around very quickly when it comes to the situation in the Middle East. In any case, the shelling was a violation of international law and the UN mandate.
The goal now must be to insist on the safety of the soldiers and that they can also carry out their mandate. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, many blue helmets do not even have the opportunity to investigate buildings where Hezbollah is suspected. The Lebanese army must also finally do justice to its work in providing support and guaranteeing state security in the south of the country.
Dangerous escalation spiral
The armed conflicts could rapidly deteriorate the humanitarian situation in the region. Schallenberg announced a multi-million dollar aid package from his ministry’s foreign disaster fund for Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
However, a UNIFIL deduction is currently not conceivable for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. All signs indicate that “we will stay there” – the presence of the blue helmets is very important. However, some certainties need to be buried. After all, it is to be feared that Israel will respond to the attack of the past. The ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ attitude could quickly lead to an escalation spiral – which no one can control, Schallenberg warns.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
