EU – minus Hungary – calls for Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire
European Union foreign ministers called on Tuesday for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and boosted humanitarian aid for Gaza, but failed to reach the unanimity that might give the EU leverage in peacemaking.
Hungary, Israel’s closest ally in the bloc, declined to join the other 26 foreign ministers in calling for a truce on their video call, convened by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
Nevertheless, the other ministers vowed that the EU would try to relaunch the peace process along with the United States, Russia and the United Nations.
“As a minimum we can try to get a ceasefire, then provide humanitarian aid, and then see what can be done to restart the Middle East peace process to address the root causes of the violence,” Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo told Reuters.
“We cannot let the extremists on both sides feed off each other and set the agenda,” he said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters in Paris that the Middle East quartet of mediators, comprising the EU, Russia, the United Nations and the United States, was the right forum to push for a resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which has been moribund since 2014.
“We must relaunch the peace process as quickly as possible and find a path to dialogue,” he said.
SLOW TO RESPOND
Weeks of Israeli-Palestinian tensions boiled over into armed conflict at the start of last week, and Turkey in particular has criticised the West’s failure to respond quickly.
Washington has long been the key broker in Middle East peacemaking, but President Joe Biden did not publicly back the idea of a ceasefire until a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday..
The EU is Israel’s biggest trade partner and a big aid donor to the Palestinians. But it has been reluctant to use such leverage or discuss possible economic sanctions on Israel’s government.
Borrell said he had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.
At least eight smaller EU states, led by Luxembourg and including Belgium, Ireland, Malta and Finland, are vocal defenders of the Palestinians. Several Belgian lawmakers called this week for EU travel bans and asset freezes on Israeli politicians over the violence.
Germany, which still carries a burden of guilt over the Nazi crimes of World War Two, is unwilling to discuss coercive measures against Israel, but pledged 40 million euros ($49 million) on Tuesday in humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza.
Others, including Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, Greece, Cyprus and Poland, are more ready to speak out in Israel’s favour. Austria flew an Israeli flag over the federal chancellery in Vienna on Friday. And in Hungary’s nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orban, Netanyahu has found an ally prepared to block statements or actions critical of Israel.
“The European Union should have, right now, a leading role (in defusing the crisis). It doesn’t have that role, either because of differences in approach by member states or because there is no strategic approach from Brussels,” Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides told Cyprus’s Alpha TV.
10 Comments
The European Union should look after its member countries within Europe and stop pretending that it has any relevance outside of that area.
It FAILED MISERABLY in its response to the ‘great financial crisis’, the (on-going) ‘invasion’ of Europe by illegal MUSLIM migrants and – most recently – the COVID-19 pandemic.
Obviously the European Commission – led by ‘Lyin.’ (“Get me a sofa !”) Leyen – and the European Parliament – the President of which is obviously a bisexual (David MARIA Sassoli) – will not allow the E.U. to ‘mind its own business’.
How much longer will it be until the whole ghastly mess explodes in a pile of ‘doggy-doo’ ?
Hopefully only a matter of months …..
What country would allow thousands of rockets to be fired at its people without a tough response. Answer none!
Bruce – but why are they firing the rockets in the first place? Cause and effect.
The lack of filter on DNH leaves me puzzled. One thing is allowing different opinions, another is allowing comments made by individuals such as this neuman ( in fact altmann since he/she seems to possess the mentality of an Inquisition priest ) comments which are full of hatred towards people who think differently, and, what is much worse, towards people’s gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation etc.
I understand the neuman is an orbanistic troll, however the question is: why does DNH allow him and few others ( but maybe it is the same person ) to see such disgraceful comments published?
P.s. that individual does not even know that having Maria as second name for a male has got nothing to do with sex.orientation. It is common in Catholic countries, such as Poland and Italy for instance, to give a newborn boy the name Maria as second name. It is sign of respect to St. Mary. But this are things ignorant neuman would not know, he is the living proof that hatred and prejudices always go together with ignorance. Poor unhappy altmann.
Mario ‘THE CAVEMAN’ is obviously a left-wing stooge and – as such – should move to Brussels where he can sing “KUMBAYA” around a campfire with his illegal MUSLIM migrants and sexual deviant friends.
Whilst he might not comprehend it, most Hungarians have NO desire whatsoever to associate with such insane notions and will loudly voice that opinion at the 2022 general election in Hungary.
I totally agree with Mario. The individual behind that Neuman.moniker (as well as as CAVEMAN, Dr Dolittle etc etc) is both a very sick and and a very sickening man, a disgrace to the nation. He needs to euthanised from the DNH.
It is truly AMAZING how left-wing ‘bottom lickers’ (such as the self-proclaimed ‘which doctor’) will not accept that most Hungarians want NOTHING to do with Brussels, illegal migrants or sexual misfits.
They keep trying to force their version of ‘political correctness’ down our throats – obviously something learnt from certain disgusting actions performed (on them ?) by their poofy-woofy friends.
When FIDESZ is re-elected at next year’s elections, can we expect these trouble-makers to commit Harakiri using a blunt kitchen knife – or will they remain around like a smelly fart ?
Only time will tell …..
You’re obviously not out of the closet yet Alfred/NotMario/CAVEMAN*Mario, and whatever other name takes your particular fancy for a comment.
For someone who spends so much time slating the gay community, not to mention all the strange insults, you must be hiding in the shadows. You’re not disgusted by it really, are you. After all, according to your comment regarding the gay orgy in Brussels, you were there …….!
TO ‘ANONYMOUS’ :
Keep the left-wing comments for daily reports to those political masters in Brussels, who obviously pay lots of money to uneducated idiots like yourself for writing such utter nonsense at their behest.
One can only wonder if you ever graduated beyond pre-school.
Perhaps you were in the same ‘class’ as Comrade Commissar Karácsony – the Prime Ministerial ‘aspirant’ who was ‘kicked out’ of university in Budapest after failing to obtain (even) a PhD after EIGHT YEARS !
By the way, you and other HOMOPHILIACS (including ‘MARIO’ and ‘HAZIORVAS’) are total abominations to normal Judeo-Christian society, which never accepts such abhorrent sexual deviation (the proponents AND their supporters).
Furthermore, the European Commission’s / Parliament’s disastrous management of ILLEGAL MUSLIM MIGRATION into Europe will soon result in disintegration of the entire European ‘project’.
It cannot happen soon enough !
Then mental midgets like yourself will have nothing to do except run around in circles like headless chickens, falling into piles of cow dung before collapsing in a bloody and feathered mess.
Hey Alfred,
Quid, Me Anxius Sum?