"What we do is to put all diplomatic pressure to a ceasefire, but nobody seems to be able to stop Netanyahu, neither in Gaza nor in the West Bank," Borrell told a small group of journalists as he attended the UN General Assembly.

Borrell backed an initiative by France and the United States for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, which Israel has brushed aside as it steps up strikes on southern Lebanon, in a days-old assault that has killed hundreds.

Borrell said Netanyahu has made clear that the Israelis "don't stop until Hezbollah is destroyed," much as in its nearly year-old war on Gaza that has killed tens of thousands and reduced the territory to rubble.

"If the interpretation of being destroyed is the same as with Hamas, then we are going to go for a long war," Borrell said.

The outgoing EU foreign affairs chief again called for diversifying diplomacy from the United States, which has failed to put enough pressure on Israel to seal a truce in Gaza.

"We cannot rely just on the US. The US tried several times; they didn't succeed," he said.

"I don't see them ready to start again a negotiation process that could lead to another Camp David," he said, referring to the 2000 talks at the US presidential retreat in which Bill Clinton unsuccessfully sought to broker a landmark deal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Netanyahu in a warmongering speech to the United Nations on Friday vowed to achieve Israel's objectives by stepping up the assault on Lebanon, where Hezbollah has sporadically attacked Israel with rockets in solidarity with Palestinians suffering under Israel's assault on Gaza.

Hezbollah has repeatedly stated that it would immediately end its attacks if Israel stops its war and a ceasefire is established in Gaza.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.