EU summit fails to agree on declaration on Middle East conflict
In principle, however, there is a great deal of agreement that Israel should be allowed to defend itself against Hamas in accordance with international law, Michel continued. "There are intensive discussions on this within the Union," said Austrian Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer. "But what unites us is a clear commitment to humanitarian aid for the people on the ground."
Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Malta had campaigned for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), on the other hand, reiterated: "Israel has the right to defend itself and its citizens against this attack." It was of course clear that this had to be done within the framework of international humanitarian law.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar criticized the stance of Germany, Austria and others. These countries believed that the demand for a ceasefire would "prevent Israel from pursuing the Hamas terrorists", he said. "I cannot agree with this interpretation. You can go after terrorists without engaging in the kind of war and destruction that Israel is engaged in in Gaza at the moment."
Varadkar called for more pressure on the Israeli government. "Their failure to grant the Palestinians their own state" must affect relations between Israel and the EU in the future, he said. "It will not be the same as it was before this war." Belgium's head of government Alexander De Croo agreed with him: "The killing of innocent civilians really must stop now."
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized overly diplomatic language towards Israel: "We cannot say out loud, for example, that more children have died in Gaza in two months than in the entire year 2023 worldwide in armed conflicts," said Fico, who has never been an outspoken defender of Israel or the Palestinians.
Spain, Ireland, Belgium and Malta had previously called for a "serious debate" on the "humanitarian catastrophe" in the Gaza Strip in a joint letter. Countries with close ties to Israel, such as Germany and Austria, came under pressure, but apparently did not give in. The draft declaration for the EU summit included a placeholder for a section on the Middle East conflict. According to AFP, this part will now be omitted.
Read also:
- This will change in December
- German activists speak out in Dubai on suffering in Israel and the Gaza Strip
- Despite UN vote: fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip continues
- Nuclear fusion - hype or solution to energy problems?
Source: www.stern.de
