Middle East conflict: Group of EU countries calls for "stronger language" towards Israel
"The majority of voters under the age of 40 in the USA and the EU now have more sympathy for the Palestinians than for the Israelis," Varadkar continued. The political leadership could not ignore this. He would tell his colleagues at the summit that the EU had lost credibility with the countries of the "global South" on the Middle East issue "because we have double standards".
The countries considered close to the Palestinians also include Spain and Malta. In a joint letter, the four countries had previously called for a "serious debate" on the "humanitarian catastrophe" in the Gaza Strip. Countries close to Israel, such as Germany and Austria, are thus coming under pressure.
According to a draft of the summit declaration, the EU leaders want to condemn "all violence" against "all civilians" in the strongest possible terms at their meeting in Brussels. The EU should also organize humanitarian aid in cooperation with its partners in the region, but "ensure that such support is not misused by terrorist organizations".
However, the interest of other EU states in giving the issue a lot of discussion time at the summit was limited. When asked whether he would support the Group of Four initiative, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte replied with a curt "no".
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- Alexander De Croo, recognizing the shift in public opinion, mentioned that the majority of young voters in EU countries and the USA show more sympathy towards Palestinians than Israelis in the Middle East conflict discussion.
- Varadkar pointed out that the EU's stance on the Middle East issue has resulted in a loss of credibility among EU countries in the "global South" due to the perceived double standards.
- Spain and Malta, among other countries, have publicly expressed concern and called for a "serious debate" regarding the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, putting pressure on EU countries perceived to be close to Israel.
- The Group of EU countries advocated for a stronger language towards Israel in light of the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has sparked disagreements within the European Union.
- The leaders of EU countries are scheduled to convene for a summit meeting in Brussels, where they aim to issue a condemnation of all forms of violence against civilians in the strongest possible terms.
- The EU's humanitarian aid efforts in the Middle East are facing challenges due to concerns about potential misuse by terror organizations, requiring careful cooperation with regional partners.
- Despite the call for a more proactive stance on the Middle East issue, not all EU countries appear to be in agreement, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressing opposition to the Group of Four's initiative.
- The Middle East conflict remains a contentious discussion in international forums and summits, with EU leaders grappling with demands to address ongoing violence, humanitarian crises, and advancing peace and stability in the region.
- As the Middle East conflict continues to unfold, with tensions stemming from Israel and Gaza Strip, international diplomacy and cooperation among EU countries and the USA will remain essential in navigating the complex political landscape.
Source: www.stern.de
