A major EU summit, a meeting of the full European Council, is scheduled for 18–19 June in Brussels. The European Council brings together the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states.  According to the draft agenda and a report in the UK’s Daily Telegraph, EU leaders are expected, under the Middle East subject heading, to accuse Israel of a long list of misdemeanors and worse, and issue a series of rebukes and censures.   

The Telegraph apparently gained access to “draft conclusions” to be discussed at the summit.  They reveal an extensive list of charges that EU leaders intend to aim at Israel, starting with condemnation of the “persistent and devastating” humanitarian crisis in Gaza and proceeding to a declaration of support for Lebanon’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

The bloc’s 27 prime ministers and presidents will apparently express “serious concern” about “continued ceasefire violations” in Lebanon, and call for a “permanent end” to hostilities. They will commit the EU to the welfare of the Lebanese people and their state-building efforts, and offer to provide emergency aid to the more than one million displaced by the conflict.  The possibility may also be raised of sending a mission of civilian and military experts, as well as financial support, to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

The EU seems unaware that the Lebanese government is as anxious to degrade Hezbollah’s military capabilities as Israel, which explains the recent Lebanon-Israel ceasefire negotiations.  Any intervention by the EU seems even less appropriate in light of the agreement reached on June 3 between Lebanon and Israel, when they moved from their previously announced truce toward an actual implementation framework for a ceasefire. 

The ceasefire will come into effect, the........

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