World Courant
Brussels, Belgium – As Gaza is mercilessly bombed by Israel, greater than 800 EU officers have written a letter to the bloc’s chief, Ursula von der Leyen, criticizing her “unchecked” assist for Israel.
The signatories of the letter, seen by Al Jazeera, say they “hardly acknowledge the values of the EU,” claiming there may be an “obvious indifference proven by our establishment in latest days to the continued mass homicide of civilians within the Gaza Strip. , with disregard for human rights and worldwide humanitarian regulation.”
They are saying they’re saddened by the Fee’s “double requirements” in contemplating Russia’s blockade of Ukraine an act of terror, whereas Israel’s blockade of Gaza is “utterly ignored.”
“If Israel doesn’t cease instantly, the complete Gaza Strip and its inhabitants shall be wiped off the planet,” the letter mentioned.
“We urge you (von der Leyen) to hitch the leaders of the complete Union in calling for a ceasefire and the safety of civilian life. That is on the core of the EU’s existence,” they mentioned, warning that “the EU dangers shedding all credibility.”
The letter represents deep divisions inside the bloc over the dealing with of the warfare between Israel and Gaza, which has killed 1000’s of individuals in lower than two weeks.
The European Fee’s “latest unlucky actions or positions seem to provide free rein to the acceleration and legitimacy of a warfare crime within the Gaza Strip,” the letter mentioned.
Greater than 4,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza, together with many youngsters.
“We might have been proud if the European Union… had referred to as for a right away cessation of hostilities and indiscriminate violence towards civilians,” the letter mentioned.
The decision for von der Leyen follows different indicators of political friction within the West, with studies that US diplomats havetotally different cable‘ on the warfare within the Center East, a doc criticizing Washington’s insurance policies that goes to the leaders of the State Division.
The European Fee mentioned it was conscious of the letter and is able to interact with employees and European residents to grasp their views.
“The president has mentioned on a number of events that ‘there is no such thing as a contradiction in standing in solidarity with Israel and appearing on the humanitarian wants of the Palestinian individuals,’” a Fee spokesperson instructed Al Jazeera.
“She additionally mentioned: ‘There might be no hesitation on our (EU) facet: Europe will all the time be on the facet of humanity and human rights.’”
An EU supply, who requested anonymity, instructed Al Jazeera that the letter was unlikely to vary EU coverage, “however it exhibits the rising divide between many employees who need worldwide regulation to be utilized around the globe.”
Von der Leyen, the president of the European Fee, is at present in the USA for an EU-US summit.
“We stand for peace and prosperity. Supporting Ukraine in its combat for freedom. supporting Israel and addressing humanitarian wants within the area,” she mentioned on Thursday.
‘They thought it could be a Ukraine second’
A second EU supply instructed Al Jazeera that dissatisfaction is rising as a result of Von der Leyen’s group “seems to have utterly misinterpreted the state of affairs”.
“They – she and her closest advisers – thought this (Israel-Hamas warfare) could be a Ukraine second, and due to this fact they need to condemn the terrorists and win the ethical argument. However I feel they’ve simply been utterly unaware of the extent of the oppression that Palestinians have skilled, and of the widespread understanding that the battle is a violent response to the occupation,” the official instructed Al Jazeera.
Good assembly along with @Charles Michel with a bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation.
The transatlantic partnership is powerful!
And in turbulent instances it’s extra obligatory than ever.
We stand for peace and prosperity.
Supporting Ukraine in its combat for freedom.
Stand-by… pic.twitter.com/2EsMMX42hJ
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 19, 2023
Von der Leyen is “nonetheless struggling morally to take a place,” the official mentioned, including that her place any more will possible rely on diplomatic efforts “on the international stage and what US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says.”
“(Her) group is making an attempt to regulate their line and acknowledge that they misinterpreted the state of affairs. They’re making an attempt to create a story through which they’ll nonetheless be seen as staunch allies of Israel, but in addition as a diplomatic energy within the area, whereas making an attempt to keep up a sure stage of credibility vis-à-vis the warfare in Ukraine,” mentioned the official.
“However on this case, it seems the Individuals would be the adults within the room,” the official added.
A number of streets away from the European Fee, an analogous sense of anger is brewing amongst some European Parliament employees, led by Roberta Metsola.
“It was fairly stunning to see two of the three presidents (Von der Leyen and Metsola) out of the blue standing shoulder to shoulder in Israel with a regime that’s killing civilians,” a parliament official, who requested anonymity, instructed Al Jazeera.
“How has Macklemore taken a extra human place than the European Fee?” they mentioned, referring to the American rapper and singer who has referred to as for a “ceasefire in Israel” and in addition a “Free Palestine”.
In the meantime, the EU’s prime diplomat, Josep Borrell, has gained reward from some staffers who consider he’s taking a extra nuanced place on the present state of affairs in Gaza; Over the last warfare, he often referred to as for the discharge of Israeli hostages in Gaza and for help to be rushed to the besieged strip on the point of collapse.
Kristina Kausch, a Madrid-based senior fellow at the USA German Marshall Fund, mentioned “inconsistencies” present a glimpse into the “deep divisions inside the EU over this battle.”
Over the previous decade, she added, the bloc’s 27 international locations have “hardly managed to make frequent statements” on the Israeli-Palestinian crises.
In consequence, the EU’s coverage on the Israeli-Palestinian file, a key measure of the EU’s effectiveness as a worldwide participant, has “come to a helpless standstill,” she mentioned.
On Thursday, members on the European Parliament’s headquarters in Strasbourg adopted a decision calling for a “humanitarian pause” within the newest warfare between Israel and Gaza.
However officers instructed Al Jazeera of extra divisions – corresponding to debates over whether or not “ceasefire” or “pause” ought to be used for the decision.
One official identified that the decision made no point out of the Israeli occupation or blockade of Gaza.
A fourth EU official who spoke to Al Jazeera described the tense ambiance within the establishment, with many feeling ashamed of working for the bloc.
“For my technology of staff, ‘By no means Once more’ truly means one thing,” they mentioned. “We bear in mind 9/11 and many people protested the warfare in Iraq. So I feel many individuals have been shocked when Von der Leyen and Metsola appeared to supply Israel carte blanche, apparently in our title. It feels just like the house to precise solidarity with the Palestinians is shrinking.
“The conflation of Jewish individuals and the State of Israel can also be an issue… The shortage of range of each Jewish and Muslim individuals working for the EU doesn’t assist.”
EU staffers criticize Von der Leyen’s ‘unchecked’ assist for Israel | Israeli-Palestinian Battle Information
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