Last week, the European Union institutions leaders showed differences in their statements and messages over the war between Israel and Hamas and over who has foreign affairs powers within the EU.
While European Commmission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola quickly travelled to Israel to express the EU’s solidarity with Israel in the face of the barbaric killings of Israelis by Hamas terrorists in communities bordering the Gaza Strip, EuropeanCouncil President Charles Michel and EU foreign policy chief stayed in Brussels remained in Brussels. An their statements regarding the events showed differences of perception and sensitivity.
In Israel, Von der Leyen as well as Metsola expressed outrage and their unconditional support for Israel when they visited kibbutz Kfar Aza – where like in other kibbutzim and moshavim – innocent women, children and elderly people were killed in terrifying circumstances or taken hostages in Gaza by Hamas, a group whose only objective is the destruction of the State of Israel and is listed as terrorist by the EU.
Speaking during a meeting with Israeli Prime Miniser Benjamin Netanyahu, the European Commission President declared: ”Over 1,300 human beings were murdered by barbaric terrorists of Hamas fighting against Israel. They aim to eradicate Jewish life from the land, and they took action. This is the most heinous assault against Jews since the Holocaust. We thought this could never happen again, yet it did. In the face of this unspeakable tragedy, there is only one possible response: Europe stands with Israel.”
‘’Israel has a right to defend itself. In fact, it has the duty to defend its people. And we must call by their name the atrocities committed by Hamas. This is terrorism. This is an act of war,’’ von der Leyen said.
‘’Nothing can justify what Hamas did. This is the time to stand in solidarity with Israel and its people. And this is why I am here,’’ she added..
But in the meantime, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell – who is known for being critical of Israel – he has never visited the Jewish state since he was appointed four years zgo- voiced a more cautious position by calling on Israel to abide by international law.
Moreover, following the horrific and inhumane terror attacks against civilians in Israel on 7 October, European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, from Hungary, who is in charge of neighborhood policy and enlargment, posted on twitter his decision to suspend for review the entire development aid to the Palestiniazns to ensure that it doesn’t go into the hands of Hamas’ war machine. ‘’There can be no business as usual,’’ he stated. ‘’The scale of terror and brutality is a turning point.’’ Austria, Germany, Sweden and Denmark also announced a suspension of their aid to the Palestinians.
But the Commissioner was later accused of having not consulted his colleagues on his decision and some members of the European parliament have called for his resignation.
At an extraordinary meeting by video conference of European leaders on Tuesday, which was called to try to seek a cohesion in their messaging, EU Council President Charles Michel stressed that the EU’s foreign policy has to be based on ‘’unity’’ and ‘’consistency’’ in demanding respect for international law wherever conflicts occur. ‘’We all must stand up and defend peace, international law and humanitarian law everywhere in the world at all time.’’
This episode is another reminder of the differences which exist since several years in the EU regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There is a clear division between the leaders and countries standing in full support of Israel because they know and understand the roots of the conflict and the others who only care about their electorate.
A Euroepan Jewish group which represents communities around Europe has come in strong defense of Commissioner Varhelyi and President Metsola.
‘’Those calling for Commissioner Varhelyi’s resignation are ignoring fzcts on the ground and denying the EU principles of accountability and protecting taxpayers money,’’ said Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the European Jewish Association (EJA) in a statement on Wednesday.
‘’Commissioner Varhelyi is acutely aware that qHamas is expert on pilfering EU funding and supplies to manufacture rocketds, reinforce terror tunnels with concrete and reinforce their killing abilities,’’ he said.
‘’That a Commissioner recognises this and seeks to protect European taxpayers from funding a proscribed terrorist organisation should be cause for praise not calls for resignation,’’ he stressed, calling the MEPs who seek Varhelyi ‘’stand for seats and political stunts.’’
The European Jewish Assiociation also sent a letter to President von der Leyen in which they express its ‘’deep appreciation’’ which was felt in Israel and by Jews everywhere for her visit to Israel.