EMERGENCY ON THE ESCALATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES, ISRAEL AND IRAN

EMERGENCY expresses deep concern about the ongoing escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran. Once again, the international response to a political crisis is based on the use of military force, with devastating consequences for civilian populations. This latest resort to arms marks yet another step in the weakening of an international order based on law, the prevention of conflict, and the protection of the most vulnerable people.

As already evident in these first days of attacks, it will be civilians who pay the price for the progressive deterioration of the rules governing the legitimate use of force, and the paralysis of the Security Council – which is unable to act in the face of the strategic interests of the military powers that comprise it.

Wars of the last twenty years – Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen – have demonstrated that armed intervention and externally imposed regime change do not bring stability, democracy or security. Instead, they produce chronic instability, radicalisation and the proliferation of non-state armed groups. War breeds more war, not solutions.

In this scenario, the European Union continues to play a marginal role when it could take strong political responsibility in promoting peace, human rights and respect for international law.

EMERGENCY reiterates that war cannot be considered an acceptable means of managing international crises.

We call on the international community to work urgently to restore diplomatic talks and ensure a concrete commitment to the protection of civilians.

Without a return to the primacy of law and diplomacy, the current crisis risks turning into a worldwide conflict, the outcome of which would be completely uncontrollable given the technologies available and current state of global turmoil.