(Brussels, November 26, 2024) – The European Jewish Congress (EJC) welcomes the decision of the Israeli government to approve a ceasefire in the conflict with the Iran-backed Lebanese terror organisation Hezbollah.
We express our fervent hope that this agreement on the cessation of hostilities, brokered by the international community, will allow the citizens of Northern Israel to finally return to their homes in full security after enduring a constant barrage of missiles from Hezbollah over the last 12 months.
It is essential to recall that Hezbollah initiated this war without any provocation on 8 October last year, launching 18.000 missiles and rockets into Israel. This escalation was clearly intended as an act of solidarity with Hamas, just hours after the brutal incursion by the Palestinian terror group on 7 October, during which hundreds of Israelis were murdered, and many were taken captive into Gaza, even before Israel had responded militarily.
During the conflict, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) succeeded in destroying 80% of Hezbollah’s weapons and eliminating many of its senior leaders. The EJC congratulates the IDF and all other forces involved for their remarkable performance in defending the State of Israel. We sincerely hope that this armistice will pave the way for a definitive peace agreement.
We further emphasise the absolute right of the State of Israel to take any necessary actions to defend its citizens and territory should Hezbollah violate this agreement.
The EJC also calls on the Lebanese government to fully implement United Nations Resolutions 1559 and 1701 to ensure that no entity, including Hezbollah, commits new acts of aggression against the State of Israel and its citizens. The future success of this ceasefire will depend on the commitment of the international community and the Lebanese government to prevent Hezbollah from posing any further threat to Israeli security.
