European Union nations made a renewed attempt Wednesday to raise troops for a U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, but many remained wary of committing soldiers without safeguards to ensure they do not get sucked into the conflict. There were expectations nations would come forward at a meeting Wednesday of ambassadors at EU headquarters with at least tentative offers of more troops, diplomats said. But any major breakthrough in overcoming the delays in mustering the force of 15,000 is unlikely before a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Friday.| “European nations are concerned their troops could get caught in crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah or forced into a confrontation with either side if, for example, Israeli troops launch more raids across the border or Hezbollah resists efforts to disarm it...” |
Meanwhile, diplomats at U.N. headquarters in New York are working on rules of engagement for the force that would allow troops to open fire in self-defense, to protect civilians and to back up the Lebanese army in preventing foreign forces or arms from crossing the border. But it was not clear whether the draft would satisfy European nations who are concerned their troops could get caught in crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah or forced into a confrontation with either side if, for example, Israeli troops launch more raids across the border or Hezbollah resists efforts to disarm it.