BRUSSELS, June 9 -- By the time the European Commission offered its endorsement of the latest Lebanon-Israel ceasefire on Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes had already resumed over Beirut's southern suburbs - the first such strikes on the Lebanese capital since the accord was announced barely a week before. The gap between the statement and the ground has rarely been so visible.

Anouar El Anouni, the Commission's foreign affairs spokesperson, told reporters at the midday briefing that the US-brokered agreement represented a "renewed opportunity to end the conflict," expressing trust that both Israel and Lebanon would pursue direct negotiations "in a constructive spirit." The Commission urged all parties to abide fully by the deal and called fo...