Borrell asks Israel to consolidate the dialogue through the Association Council with the EU

BRUSSELS, 2 May. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has asked this Tuesday the Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, to consolidate the dialogue between the EU and Israel through the Association Council, a forum that was held last year under Yair Lapid’s government after almost a decade without convening.

With the return to power of Benjamin Netanyahu, European diplomacy hopes to continue the cooperation dialogue with Israel and hold a new Association Council meeting this year.

“Borrell recalled that the cooperation between the EU and Israel is very close and that the EU has a great interest in further deepening this relationship, which is why it hopes that a new meeting of the Association Council will be held this year,” said the EU External Action Service on the meeting with Cohen in Brussels, the first in person since the arrival of the new Israeli Executive.

In this sense, in the community capital they see it as essential to maintain dialogue at the highest level with the Israeli authorities “not only to continue strengthening the relationship”, but also “because of the importance of cooperation to face global challenges”, as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine or the regional role of Iran.

Regarding the situation in the Middle East and the latest wave of attacks after the escalation due to the eviction of the Al Aqsa mosque during the Ramadan festival, the High Representative has insisted on Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks, but has stressed that any response must be “proportionate” and in line with international law, stressing the importance of respecting the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem.

In this sense, he has reiterated that Israel put an end to unilateral measures that could exacerbate tensions and endanger the horizon of a just and sustainable peace based on the two-State solution.

Similarly, Borrell has placed emphasis on reactivating peace efforts, through a regional plan, based on the Arab Peace Initiative and the European offer of a “peace package” urging the minister to join this initiative.