On the anniversary of the attacks by the Hamas terrorist group against Israel, the head of community diplomacy, Josep Borrelladmitted this Monday that the European Union is “deeply absent” in the search for solutions to the conflict in Middle East due to the fstrong divisions between member states. In a speech with a markedly pessimistic tone before the plenary session of the European Chamber, Borrell lamented the absolute lack of prospects for achieving a ceasefire and a political solution for peace in the region.
“The tragedy is that Europe is profoundly absent from this conflict, probably because the member states, which dictate foreign policy, we are deeply divided. We are the first donor to the Palestinian Authority. We are the first donor of humanitarian aid to Gaza. But nevertheless, when the time comes to vote at the United Nations, some of us vote in favor, others vote against and others abstain. And we do not perceive the horror of what is happening in Gaza or in the West Bank in the same way,” Borrell acknowledged.
In the year that has passed since the 1st October attacks, the Twenty-seven They have repeatedly displayed their differences in public on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On the one hand, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia were the first to demand a ceasefire from the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu and they have recognized the Palestinian State alone, apart from the rest of the European partners.
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At the opposite extreme, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic have defended Israel’s actions at all times and without reservation. in Gaza. The other Member States have oscillated in intermediate positions. The result is that the EU has not been able to speak with a single voice in 12 months of conflict, and so has not been able to exert any influence.
In his speech before the European Parliament, Borrell once again condemned the 7-O attacks and called for unconditional release of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. He has also rejected Hezbollah’s attacks against Israel from Lebanon, as well as the launch of missiles by Iran first on April 13 and then on October 1 or the “wave of anti-Semitism” since the new outbreak of the conflict.
At the same time, the head of European diplomacy has repeated that Israel’s right to defense has “limits”, which depend on respect for international humanitarian law. “In a war there are neither good nor bad victims. There are simply civilian victimswhether they are Israeli or Palestinian. And all victims are equal. Just as we cry over the fate of those who were murdered on October 7, we also have to consider what has happened, what is happening in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have died under bombs,” Borrell insisted.
The High Representative denounces that the possibility of a ceasefire now seems further away than ever. “Never has there been so much talk about the Israel-Palestine conflict like now, but perhaps never with so little prospect of a political solution.” A political perspective that “seems to have disappeared in the midst of the tragedy that is being experienced”.
For Borrell, the answer remains a solution based on the two states. “The tragedy is that this solution, the only one we know to try to build peace, does not have the support of one of the most important parties to the problem, which is the current government of Israel,” he noted. Even so, the head of community diplomacy has defended that Europe’s “responsibility” is to “open hope for peace, which can only come from dialogue and agreement.” “We must move from mutual rejection to mutual recognition”has concluded.
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