EU foreign ministers block Borrell’s proposal to freeze EU-Israel dialogue over Gaza war

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 21 - The EU member states rejected their foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell's proposal to suspend political dialogue with Israel regarding the country's conduct during the war in the Gaza Strip. EU countries remain deeply divided over the situation in the Middle East.
    No more words.
    The European Union on Monday rejected the idea of suspending political dialogue with Israel over its human rights violations in Gaza. The proposal was made by the outgoing High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. He warned just days before the end of his mandate: "History will judge us all, all of us." Borrell said Monday he had "no more words" to describe the crisis in the Middle East as he delivered a bleak assessment at his potentially last foreign ministers' meeting. At a sombre press briefing, Borrell said a majority of the 27 European Union states had - as expected - rejected his call to suspend political dialogue with Israel over the Gaza war.
    Barely concealing his frustration at the EU's lack of influence on Israeli-Palestinian conflict during his five-year mandate, Borrell earlier said he had "exhausted the words to explain what's happening".
    Borrell's proposal to suspend the EU's political dialogue with Israel - part of a wider agreement on trade relations - had been expected to hit opposition from many member states including France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and Belgium.
    The Foreign Affairs Council held on November 18 might be the last chaired by Borrell. His possible successor is the former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who is likely to take over from Borrell as part of von der Leyen's next Commission.
    "This is a war against the children".
    "This is a war against the children," the 77-year-old foreign policy chief told reporters after the EU Foreign Affairs Council. He described an "apocalyptical situation in Gaza, where 70 percent of the death toll is being paid by children and women", with two million people displaced. Borrell also acknowledged the suffering of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups since the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
    The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally by French news agency's AFP of Israeli official figures. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says that 43,922 people, mostly civilians, have been killed there since October 7.
    Majority of EU member states against freezing EU dialogue with Israel.
    "Most of the member states considered that it was much better to continue having diplomatic and political relationships with Israel," Borrell confirmed.
    Borrell pointed out that his proposal, is supported by a report prepared by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Olof Skoog. The report is based on a compilation of data on violations published by United Nations agencies and other international organisations working in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.
    The EU top diplomat said his services had "at least put on the table" all the information produced by UN bodies and international organisations on the ground "in order to judge the way the war is being waged".
    Borrell added that he did so after the European Commission "has not proposed anything" since Spain and Ireland requested in February an "urgent review" of whether Israel is complying with human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
    EU divided on Israeli acting in Gaza and West Bank.
    Since Israel unleashed its devastating retaliatory offensive in Gaza, EU states have been deeply divided over the conflict.
    German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock rejected Borrell's proposal to suspend regular political dialogue with Israel. "We are always in favour of keeping channels of dialogue open. Of course, this also applies to Israel," she said. "Humanitarian aid is firmly anchored in international law," she said. Baerbock clearly stated that there should be no colonisation of Gaza and no expulsion from Gaza.
    France has spoken out against freezing EU dialogue with Israel but supports sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. "We are deeply attached to the security of Israel," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said at the Paris Peace Forum but "in the interest of Israel, of Israeli security, international law needs to be respected and justice needs to be reached". During his visit to the West Bank on November 7, Barrot had already threatened a new round of sanctions, and renewed France's commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
    Portugal's Secretary of State for European Affairs, Inês Domingos, said that Portugal was also opposed to Borrell's proposal, stressing that "this is not the ideal moment" to do it. Domingos said there were substantive grounds, since Lisbon considered the dialogue "to be positive", but it was also a question of timing, as there was currently a transition at the level of the EU executive". The approval process for the new European Commission is underway - the hearings of the new commissioners are ongoing and the new Commission is expected to start its work in December. "At the moment, we believe (…) that it is important to preserve the political dialogue," she said.
    Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said: "There is a new Israeli minister (Israel Katz, new Defense Minister), there will soon be a new (EU) high representative; we will wait for these two opportunities to start the dialogue, because there is much to discuss, including the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip." Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, stressed: "Boycotting dialogue with Israel makes no sense. If you want to work for peace, you can't avoid talking to Israel." Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Elena Shekerletova, stressed the need to de-escalate the conflict, to renew diplomatic efforts and prevent the escalation of hostilities in the region.
    "Bulgaria supports the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735 for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and the cessation of hostilities," Shekerletova said.
    Speaking for Slovenia, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said that the country is willing to consider the proposal by Borrell to suspend dialogue with Israel. Fajon believes focus must be put on Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which is about the respect for human rights. "This is what is key, what must be preserved. But there are also other matters, which is why suspension is worth considering." Fajon once again called for stricter sanctions against Israeli settlers perpetrating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The foreign minister also called for sanctions against Israeli political leaders who support this. She moreover called for an embargo on imports marked as stemming from occupied Palestinian territories.
    (The content is based on news by agencies participating in the enr, in this case AFP, BTA, dpa, EFE, STA, Lusa). (ANSA).