Reactions to the 2006 Lebanon War came from states on all continents, supranational bodies, individuals and international NGOs, as well as political lobbyists in the United States.
Supranational bodies
Arab League The Arab League, in the words of Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, has called Hezbollah's attacks on Israel "unexpected, inappropriate, and irresponsible acts." With the League fearing a "widening of tension and possible Israeli strike against Syria," Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa blamed Israel for the escalating violence in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, stating: "It’s up to the resistance – both the Lebanese and the Palestinian – to decide what they are doing and why are they fighting.""3 Israeli soldiers die, 2 captured in raid." WTHR. 2006 July 12 [updated 2016 August 26]. Retrieved 2020 November 27.
Following a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on 16 July, Secretary-General Amr Moussa declared that the "Middle East peace process has failed. The whole process should now be sent back to the Security Council for a complete overhaul.""Arab League head: Mideast peace process 'dead'." CNN International. 2006 July 15. Retrieved 2020 November 27."Arab League: Mideast Peace Plan 'Dead'." CBS News. 2006 July 15. Retrieved 2020 November 27.
European Union Finland, which held the European Union's rotating presidency, issued the following statement:The European Union is greatly concerned about the disproportionate use of force by Israel in Lebanon in response to attacks by Hezbollah on Israel. The presidency deplores the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The imposition of an air and sea blockade on Lebanon cannot be justified.On 28 July 2006, a senior EU delegation threw its support behind the 7-point plan of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, representing the EU presidency, said Siniora's plan was a "good basis to reach an agreement," and that he was "struck by the unity of the Lebanese government."
On 8 August 2006, the EU issued a memo in which it outlined its response to the conflict.EU response to the conflict in Lebanon
United Nations Geir Pedersen, the top UN official in Lebanon, said "Hezbollah’s action escalates the already tense situation along the Blue Line and is an act of very dangerous proportions," in a statement."'Act of war' in Gaza." Denver Post. The Associated Press. 2006 July 12. Jan Egeland, a top United Nations humanitarian official, said that the Israeli response is in violation of international law. He was equally critical of Hezbollah and Hamas for abducting Israeli soldiers, saying that those who had seized Israeli soldiers and fired rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon bore their share of the blame. Egeland also criticized Hezbollah for using the civilian population as cover, telling the BBC:I also clearly see that Hezbollah is trying to blend into the civilian population in too many places and they bear also a heavy responsibility for this. They do not seem to care that they really inflict a lot of suffering on their own population.UN Secretary General Kofi Annan demanded that Hezbollah immediately free the two captured Israeli soldiers, and sent a three-man party to the Middle East to urge countries to show restraint."Annan to send team to Middle East to urge restraint." One India. Reuters. 2006 July 14. On 17 July 2006, Annan and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair called for an international force to be sent to Lebanon to stop the attacks on Israel by Hezbollah. Blair said that the force could "stop the bombardment coming over into Israel and therefore gives Israel a reason to stop its attacks on Hezbollah." On 19 July, Annan went on to condemn Israel's use of force: "I condemn without reservations the attack in southern Lebanon, and demand that Israeli troops be released immediately." The next day, Annan demanded both sides stop all violence immediately, condemning Hezbollah for sparking the conflict but also attacking Israel for its "excessive use of force."
According to Annan, the "three vital reasons" for "immediate cessation of hostilities" were:
"prevent further loss of innocent life and the infliction of further suffering;" "to allow full humanitarian access to those in need;" and "give diplomacy the chance to work out a practical package of actions that would provide a lasting solution to the current crisis."
On 26 July, the United States blocked the UN Security Council from issuing a statement that would have condemned Israel's bombing of a UN post on the Lebanon border that killed four military observers overnight.
On 29 July, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland appealed for a 72-hour truce to allow for humanitarian relief of the civilian population in Lebanon. This was later disputed by the Israelis, who said that all relief efforts were already ongoing. On 30 July, following the bombing of Qana by Israeli Air Force (IAF), Annan condemned the attack and urged the UN Security Council to also condemn it:We must condemn this action in the strongest possible terms, and I appeal to you [the Security Council] to do likewise.... The tragic events in Qana remind us that, ten years ago over 100 people who had taken refuge in this same village suffered a similar fate. We must deliver the region from this seemingly endless cycle of violence.
Others
At its Annual Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, ASEAN delegates condemned the violence and destruction in the Middle East, urging all parties to practice utmost constrain in avoiding civilian casualties. The Non-Aligned Movement has condemned what they claimed to be disproportionate Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon and called for an international force to be deployed to prevent the violence from spiralling into a regional conflict. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation called for the convening of the U.N. General Assembly in "emergency special session," under the terms of the "Uniting for Peace" resolution, if the Security Council failed to act immediately in the crisis.http://webevents.bernama.com/events/ext_oic2006/news_list.php
Middle East
Egypt President Mubarak of Egypt made a number of comments on the violence, condemning the Israeli military attack in Lebanon, while also indirectly criticizing Hezbollah for harming Arab interests."World divided over Mideast conflict", Aljazeera, 15 July 2006 Mubarak, along with King Abdullah II of Jordan, criticized Hezbollah's actions as being harmful, saying that the actions may have "the region being dragged into 'adventurism' that does not serve Arab interests.""Arab World Divided Over Hezbollah", The New York Sun, 19 July 2006 Mubarak was criticized for his statement on a 9 July television broadcast by Al Arabiya: "Definitely Iran has influence on Shi'ites. Shi'ites are 65 percent of the Iraqis.... Most of the Shi'ites are loyal to Iran, and not to the countries they are living in.""Military: Slay plot foiled in Lebanon", The Boston Globe, 11 July 2006
In a newspaper interview with Egypt's Al Gomhuria on 26 July, Mubarak said:Those who urge Egypt to go to war to defend Lebanon or Hizbullah are not aware that the time of exterior adventures is over. This was possible at a time when the Egyptian population was only 24 million, but it is not possible now with 75 million citizens in need of development, services, job opportunities and residential projects."Egypt rules out intervention in Lebanon", Daily Star (Beirut), 27 July 2006The next day, an interview with TIME magazine quoted Mubarak as saying that Israeli conduct in Lebanon "went way too far" and has "triggered an increasing rage within the Arabs, Moslems and worldwide."Egypt's Mubarak: "No Light at the End of the Tunnel", TIME, 27 July 2006 The President is also reported to have told TIME:Military operations will not solve Israel's problems with Hizbullah. An immediate cease-fire is the utmost priority. Cessation of hostilities would create the environment conducive to addressing such problems in a candid manner. The bloodshed and the heavy toll of Israel's operations must be brought to an end."Mubarak: US response to war too little, too late", Ynetnews, 29 July 2006On July 13, Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit stated: "Targeting civilians under the pretext of fighting terrorism is unacceptable and unjustified. Israeli practices violate international law. We condemn any military action that targets civilians. We consider it a terrorist act, regardless of who the civilians are or its source." Almost a week later, Gheit went on to say that "[a] cease-fire is imperative and we have to keep working to reach that objective. It is imperative. We have to bring it to an end as soon as possible."
Iran
On 13 July, Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi condemned Israel's response: "The Zionist regime is desperate because of the resistance put up by regional Muslim nations and is now resorting to blind tactics against the innocent people of Lebanon with full US backing." Iran also added that an Israeli attack against Syria would be considered an attack against the entire Muslim world, which would bring about a "fierce response." Three days later, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying that the "Zionists think that they are victims of Hitler, but they act like Hitler and behave worse than Genghis Khan."
On 27 July, Ahmadinejad stated that: Not only has the occupying regime [Israel] attacked and destroyed Lebanon under the support of certain countries, it has victimized several hundred women and children while thousands of people have been displaced escaping Israeli bombardment.
In an August 2006 speech during an emergency meeting of Muslim leaders in Malaysia, Ahmadinejad also called for an immediate cease-fire to end the fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah.
During a visit to Beirut on 2 August, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, referring to the 'Rome convention' of late July, said: "We consider those, who helped in preventing the Rome convention from condemning and stopping the attack, as partners to the Zionist entity in its savage crimes committed against innocent women and children in Lebanon."
Iraq On 14 July, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon and called on both the UN Security Council and the international community to act, warning against the outcome for the region. Al-Mashhadani reportedly indicated that the "attacks reflected Israel's disrespect of the international community and international agreements."
Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi Foreign Minister in the US-backed government, also represented Iraq at a closed session meeting in Cairo with Arab League Foreign Ministers on 15 July. The meeting was convened to discuss the possibility of a resolution on the conflict.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is reported to have condemned Israel during the conflict, saying: "We call on the world to take quick stands to stop the Israeli aggression" and "[Israel's] excessive use of force is to be condemned."
Saudi Arabia A Saudi official, quoted by the Saudi Press Agency on 13 July, was critical of Hezbollah guerrillas—without naming them—of "uncalculated adventures" that precipitated the latest Middle East crisis: A difference should be drawn between legitimate resistance and rash adventures carried out by elements inside the state and those behind them without consultation or coordination with Arab countries.... The Kingdom sees that it is time for those elements alone to shoulder the full responsibility for this irresponsible behavior and that the burden of ending the crisis they have created falls on them alone.
Syria