Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bethel was harsh in his assessment, admitting that no one listens to the EU anymore. The EU is presenting “confetti” on the international stage, said Bethel.
EU ministers are unable to agree on a common bloc response that could stop hostilities escalating into a full-scale regional war.
The meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg comes a week after the first anniversary of the massacre in Israel by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, when the terrorists killed almost 1,200 people, mostly civilians. and accommodated 250 guests.
In response to the October 7 massacre, Israel declared its determination to destroy “Hamas” and launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip. The authorities in the terror-controlled Gaza Strip claim that more than 42,000 people have been killed in the fighting in the Gaza Strip, but these numbers are believed to be greatly exaggerated. with the disinformation that Hamas has so far continuously spread. In addition, a large number of those killed are fighters from Islamist groups.
It should also be noted that not all dead Palestinians are victims of Israeli fire. Rockets fired by terrorists at Israel kill many. There have also been reports of cases where terrorists have opened fire on civilians who do not want to accede to the terrorists’ demands and play the role of human shields.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah, which supports Palestinian militants along with Iran, has subjected northern Israel to constant rocket fire since the October 7 massacre, giving has evacuated approximately 60,000 Israelis from the threatened areas.
On September 23, the Israeli army launched intense airstrikes against Hezbollah-affiliated targets in Lebanon, but on October 1, it also launched ground operations to push the group’s fighters back from the border areas and allow the evacuated residents to return to their homes.
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg confirmed that Israel is in an “extremely difficult situation” since October 7 and that “Hezbollah” is constantly attacking it from Lebanon.
At the same time, the highest representative of the EU in foreign affairs, Jozeps Borel, expressed his dissatisfaction with the different positions of the member states on the issue of the Middle East.
“It takes too much time to say some things that are very obvious,” Borrell said. “It’s very obvious that we have to stand up against Israel’s attacks [ANO miera uzturētāju misijai] UNIFIL, especially since our troops are there. “
Shortly before the start of the meeting, a joint statement from the EU was issued on Monday, condemning as “completely unacceptable” attacks by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon, which injured UN peacekeepers .
In the past few days, five peacekeepers were injured in attacks on UNIFIL positions in southern Lebanon. Most attacks are blamed on Israel.
This news was expected to be released as early as last weekend.
However, it was blocked by the Czech Republic, which, as EU diplomats said on Monday, had coordinated its position with Israel.
Meanwhile, Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin said EU member states should “go beyond what is right, reasonable and moral” as Israel attacks it. UN peacekeepers.
As Martin said, he was surprised that some EU member states do not support UN peacekeepers as strongly as they could.
Of the ten main countries that have sent their troops to participate in UNFIL, four are members of the EU – Italy, Spain, France and Ireland.
There is also considerable disagreement among EU member states over the supply of arms to Israel. While France and Spain have requested an arms embargo, other member states have increased arms deliveries.
The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barot, said that it is not necessary to arm Israel and call for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon at the same time. “It’s a matter of consistency,” Baro said.
2024-10-14 13:45:00
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