Israel responds to European calls for both states with a proposal to build an artificial island

There is a line of unity across the many divisions within the EU over the Middle East conflict: for a year now all countries have supported a two-state solution as the single option for a lasting, just and sustainable peace. The difference is that until today they had done so at the point of exiting a scenario that seemed distant, if not unattainable. The events of October 7 changed this. The conflict, obscured and forgotten from the global agenda in recent years, has returned to the media spotlight with consensus among the international community – with the exception of Israel – laying the groundwork for the creation of a state for the Palestinian people. Is included. ,

With the ambition to promote this roadmap, 27 foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday with their counterparts from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Palestine and Israel. Israeli representative Israel Katz ignored the call from both states. Instead, he presented two videos to Europeans aimed at Build an artificial island off the coast of Gaza and establish a railway line connecting the Middle East to India.

“The Minister showed us some videos that had little or nothing to do with the issue we were discussing (…) about the project of an artificial island to serve as a port and Regarding the project of building the second railway, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said, “The line that connects the Middle East to India. We found it very interesting, but he could have better used his time to worry about the security of his country or the high number of deaths in Gaza.” in the press conference held at the end of the meeting.

Frustration with command management is growing in Tel Aviv, Upon arriving at the meeting, Borrell highlighted the lack of peace proposals from Netanyahu’s camp: “What option do you have? Expel the Palestinians? Kill them?”

Creation of a Palestinian state

At the meeting, the High Representative presented to 27 European ministers a twelve-point plan whose core is the celebration of peace conference Preparations that serve as the basis for the creation of a Palestinian state. In the document he advocated the involvement of international organizations and Arab countries, “if possible even with the United States”, to promote mutual diplomatic recognition and establish strong security guarantees for the Jewish state. Once conclusions are drawn, Ramallah and Tel Aviv will present final proposals.

The EU advocates “the recognition of a realistic and viable Palestinian state with Gaza and the West Bank under a single Palestinian National Authority”.

“It is no longer a question of saying that one is in favor of a two-state solution. The effort to implement a two-state solution is very clear: it is the recognition of a realistic and viable Palestinian state with Gaza and the West Bank as the same national Under the authority of Palestine, connected by a corridor with an exit to the sea in Gaza and its capital in East Jerusalem”, agreed Spanish Minister José Manuel Alberes, who has submitted the recognition of the State of Palestine by Spain. . Future International Conference.

warning to israel

A striking feature of the new document is that it states that, if either party refuses to accept it, there will be “consequences”. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, There is an association agreement between the two through which the Jewish state is part of most European programs. There has never been the appetite, unity or need in Brussels to use this power of economic influence to put pressure on Tel Aviv. But he has already started showing his teeth. “Europe’s biggest influence has always been its wallet. In European policies, money can help to focus and I think we need to start thinking about it internationally as well,” said Latvian Foreign Minister upon arrival of the appointment. Minister Krisjanis Karins said.

Borrell’s document: “The absence of a peace process will prolong the current violence”

A few days ago, the High Representative suggested in a talk at the University of Valladolid that solutions to the world’s longest conflict should be found abroad. Brussels’ perception is that both Israeli and Palestinian societies are in a state of shock and trauma. They are not prepared nor do they have the appetite to think about tomorrow. “It is not realistic to think that Israelis and Palestinians will sit down for talks any time soon,” the document says. But in the Sangh they defend that the time to prepare for peace begins today, not tomorrow. Borrell plan evaluates the situation Starting from decades and business context And not on 7th October. Because the goal is mainly to avoid excess 7-O. “The absence of a peace process will prolong the current violence and encourage further radicalization and violence in the future,” the document said.

While all this is being consolidated, the EU calls for doubling efforts to alleviate the humanitarian situation in the Strip, which in Borrell’s words “Nothing can be worse than this.”, avoid regional tensions, strengthen the Palestinian Authority and provide assistance for the reconstruction of Gaza. The intention and political will of the international community is there. But everything else is missing, which is a lot. Israel is under the most ultranationalist and belligerent government in its history. The Palestinians do not have a strong political structure that would instill confidence among their people that would present itself as an alternative to Hamas. And the United States is facing elections this year with the possibility of a return to power for Donald Trump, who in his previous term moved the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in recognition of Hebrew sovereignty over the holy city.

The pillar on which the European strategy is based is that Israel will not live in security if Palestinians do not live with dignity. “With its current policy, its aggression in Gaza and its continued undermining of the two-state solution, Israel is steering the future of the region toward more conflict and more war. Israel will not get security from this war, This will not bring peace. Jordan’s Ayman Hussein Abdullah al Safadi agreed, saying, “Israel will not have security as long as it continues to deny the rights of the Palestinian people.”

In parallel, it should be emphasized that after three and a half months and more than 25,000 deaths in Gaza, the EU has still not been able to reach a consensus on its request for a ceasefire. Countries like Belgium, Finland, Spain and Ireland demand it, but continue to face Reluctance from Germany or Austria, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki warned that “nothing less than a ceasefire can be accepted.”

Upon his arrival at the European Council he said, “We cannot hesitate about a ceasefire. Too many innocent people are being murdered every day. Palestinian lives matter too.” He called for “courage” and “leadership” from the EU. Impose sanctions on Netanyahu and those who are “destroying the prospects for peace.”