“What option do you have? Let the Palestinians go? Kill?”
“We have to discuss with them (Israel) what solutions they have in mind. What solutions do you have in mind? Let all the Palestinians go? Kill?” This is how the High Representative, Josep Borrell, expressed himself before the meeting of EU foreign ministers with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz. In addition to that meeting, he expressed his concern about other actors involved in the conflict in the Middle East, such as Meetings are planned with the Palestinian Authority or Arab promoters of the peace proposal. Borrell’s words come as the EU has begun developing a peace plan that includes a two-state solution as the “only” option. Which the 27 countries consider feasible to guarantee peace in the region. Borrell assured that this is a “comprehensive approach”.
“We have to stop talking about peace, about the peace process and start talking more specifically about the process of a two-state solution,” Borrell told reporters upon his arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council. ” In a speech last Friday, he opted for the two-state solution to be “imposed” on Israel “from outside”, because of its persistent refusal to implement it. “Destroying Hamas is not how they are doing it. They have promoted hatred for generations,” the head of diplomacy warned: “Peace and stability cannot be created with military means alone, not with the particular dogmatism in which they are using military means ”
The European Union has approved a specific sanctions framework against Hamas to punish those who support the terrorist organization by providing material or financial means. The package approved on Friday included the already sanctioned six people.
“The human condition could not be worse. There are no words to explain it,” warned the High Representative, who recalled that hundreds of thousands of people are without “shelters or food and under bombs.” Foreign ministers agreed on the need to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip .
What they still lack consensus on is the ceasefire request. Countries like Germany are not in favor of working on the basis that Israel has the right of self-defense against Hamas. And those who defend it have subsequently put in different qualifiers. For example, Spaniard José Manuel Alberes has called for a “permanent ceasefire”. Belgium has called for an “immediate ceasefire” and Finland has described it as “humanitarian”. Minister Elina Valtonen said, “We have to work on this and look for steps so that this ceasefire can last longer and both sides can negotiate.” “The first thing we need is a ceasefire, I don’t care what the name is,” said Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel.
The 27 foreign ministers, who fear escalating conflict at the regional level with tensions between Iran and Pakistan, will address the conflict in the Middle East, including Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, all involved actors. Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud; Jordan, Ayman Safadi and Egypt as well as Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. Also with Palestinian Authority diplomacy chief Riyad al-Maliki.