Despite its enormous internal divisions over the conflict in the Middle East, The European Union toughens its tone towards Israel after the bombing of a refugee camp in Rafah in which more than 40 people have died. An action that has been condemned in all community capitals. “Outraged by the Israeli attacks that have killed many displaced people in Rafah. These operations must stop. There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians,” said the French president, Emmanuel Macron.
The Foreign Ministers of the 27 have unanimously agreed this Monday to convene the EU-Israel Association Council. An initiative whose objective is to demand from the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu to carry out the order of the international Court of Justice (ICJ) which demands that it stop its offensive in Rafah.
The Twenty-Seven also demand that Israel stop withholding tax revenues that correspond to the Palestinian National Authority (which is causing its “economic and financial asphyxiation”) and to refrain from declaring the UN agency that deals with Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) as a terrorist organization.
[España, Irlanda y Noruega escenifican su alianza para reconocer a Palestina: “No es un premio a Hamás”]
The Foreign Ministers have also charged the head of community diplomacy, Josep Borrell, which explores possible measures against Israel if it continues to ignore the Court’s orders, which for Brussels are mandatory. “For the first time at an EU meeting there has been a significant discussion on sanctions,” said the Irish Foreign Minister, Michael Martinwhich at the same time admits that agreement on this issue is “very far away.”
In any case, this Monday’s decision represents a major escalation of tension between the EU and Israel. In response to a request from Spain and Ireland, Borrell already proposed in March to convene the Association Council with Israel to convey to Netanyahu the European discontent over the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza. But then the majority of Member States opposed this initiative.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, has insisted that Israel “must comply” with the ICC order to stop the military offensive on Gaza. “If not done, The EU must look at what instruments we have at our disposal to support international legality, to support the International Court of Justice and to obtain compliance with its sentences,” he concluded.
“We have achieved the necessary unanimity to convene the Association Council with Israel in order to discuss the situation in Gaza and the human rights obligations that Israel has assumed and how they plan to apply the Court’s order,” Borrell said.
“What we have seen since the Court made its ruling public is not the end of military activities, but a increase in bombings and civilian casualties“complains the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
“Ministers have also asked me to propose additional measures to deal with this situation,” he added, without mentioning the word “sanctions.” There is also no date for the convening of the Association Council with Israel nor is it certain that his Foreign Minister, Israel Katzgo to Brussels when summoned.
Borrell has expressed his solidarity with Spain and Ireland after the attacks received by Israel -and specifically Katz- for his decision to recognize the Palestinian State. In his opinion, the actions of the Netanyahu Government constitute an “absolutely unjustified and extreme verbal aggression.”
Finally, the head of community diplomacy assures that the EU is willing to take control of the Rafah border crossingbut will only deploy a mission there if it receives the support of Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
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