EU mins block Borrell proposal to freeze EU-Israel dialogue

(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.
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    (The content is based on news by agencies participating in the enr, in this case AFP, BTA, dpa, EFE, STA, Lusa). (ANSA).