Czech Prime Minister Petar Fiala has expressed his full support to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after she was criticized for her ‘‘pro-Israel’’ position in the war between Israel and Hamas.
In a letter sent to von der Leyen and seen by Euractiv, a news website covering EU affairs, nearly 850 EU staff working around the world wrote that ‘’we are concerned about the unconditional support by the European Commission you represent for one of the two parties.’’
They also wrote that they are ”concerned about the seeming indifference demonstrated over the past few days by our institution toward the ongoing massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip, disregarding human rights and international humanitarian law”.
Czech Prime Minister Fiala reposted the Euractiv’s article on X with a comment fully supporting the European Commission’s president.
“Israel has every right to defend itself after the barbaric Hamas terror attacks. Supporting Israel in this situation is the only possible and correct position,” Fiala wrote.
“On the other hand, support for terrorist organisations that use civilians as human shields is unacceptable. The Czech Republic is on the side of Israel, and I am glad that Ursula von der Leyen is too. Madame president has our full support in this matter,” he wrote.
The Czech Republic is known to be one Israel’s best friend in Europe. Fiala recently declared that he was a proponent of relocating the Czech Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský was one of the first European politician to pay an official visit to the country after the attacks launched by Hamas against Israel.
EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meet Monday in Luxembourg to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas. According to a diplomatic source, the EU is likely to follow the U.S. line : reiterate calls for the release of all hostages held in Gaza, discourage an Israeli ground invasion and support open humanitarian aid corridors for civilians in Gaza impacted by the fighting. The EU is also expected to call on Iran to, remain out of the conflict.