EU Envoy to Middle East: Our Top Priority is Preventing a Regional War

Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel (AFP)
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EU Envoy to Middle East: Our Top Priority is Preventing a Regional War

Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel (AFP)

The war in the Gaza Strip is a serious obstacle to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians but the European Union's Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process, Sven Koopmans, has expressed determination to push forward with efforts to achieve a two-state solution, despite opposition from the Israeli government.
In an interview with AFP, Koopmans emphasized that the current priority is to seek an end to the suffering in Gaza, while working to prevent the outbreak of a regional war that would particularly involve Lebanon, and to restart the peace process.
The secretive diplomat said his work was guided by the EU's 1980 declaration recognizing the “right to existence and to security” for Israel and “the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” including “self-determination.”
But Koopmans acknowledged divisions within the 27 existing members on the Middle East strife.
He said there is currently a need to find consensus among governments with different attitudes and interests on international relations.
This is evidenced by the large gap between the positions of EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell and countries such as Hungary or Czech Republic that both sought to block EU sanctions against Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Named as special representative for the peace process in 2021, Koopmans said the European Union was one of the most energetic institutions pushing for a two-state solution.
He said Brussels is one of the capitals that is witnessing behind the scenes activity aimed at getting out of the crisis in Gaza, and that all EU members agree on the need to establish a Palestinian state.
Koopmans then highlighted that the 27 countries were Israel's largest trading partner and the top aid donor to the Palestinians.
“We are the biggest political neighbor to both of them. Of course, we are not the biggest security provider, let's be honest. But we are a big and relevant actor,” the Dutch diplomat said.
He noted that Spain, Slovenia and Ireland joined non-EU member Norway in recognizing a Palestinian state this year, adding that the move could “contribute” to a solution to the conflict.



Building in Beirut Southern Suburbs Struck After Israeli Warning

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahieh in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahieh in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
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Building in Beirut Southern Suburbs Struck After Israeli Warning

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahieh in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahieh in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

A building in Beirut’s southern suburbs known as Dahieh was struck on Sunday almost an hour after the Israeli army issued an evacuation order to residents of the area.

The Israeli army's spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, earlier said on X that residents should evacuate several buildings in the Hadath neighborhood and move "at least 300 meters away.”

Residents reported hearing gunfire across the area, which they said they believed was intended to warn people to leave, as well as seeing a massive traffic jam on roads leading from the area.

"To everyone located in the building marked in red on the attached map, and the surrounding buildings: you are near facilities belonging to Hezbollah," Adraee wrote in a post that included a map of the potential targets.

The Israeli army said the building was being used to store precision missiles belonging to Hezbollah.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Hezbollah's precision missiles "posed a significant threat to the State of Israel."

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the United States and France, as guarantors of the ceasefire agreement struck in November, to compel Israel to stop its attacks.
"Israel's continued actions in undermining stability will exacerbate tensions and place the region at real risk, threatening its security and stability," he said in a statement.

Earlier this month an Israeli airstrike killed four people, including a Hezbollah official, in Beirut's southern suburbs -the second Israeli strike on a Hezbollah-controlled area of the Lebanese capital in five days.