2023-11-27 18:34:19
As soon as the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel by surprise last October 7 and a new war broke out in the Gaza Strip, many European leaders have crossed the Mediterranean to show solidarity with Israel. This is the case of the presidents of the Commission and the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen i Roberta Metsolafrom the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the French president, Emmanuel Macron. At the end of last week, and after the tour of the high representative for the EU’s foreign policy, Joseph Borrell, the Spanish president did it, Pedro Sanchezi its Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croowith a request for a “ceasefire” and criticism of the “indiscriminate” death of civilians in Gaza – although they also denounced the barbarity of Hamas at the same time” – which has triggered a diplomatic crisis on the part of Israel.
Was Sánchez speaking on behalf of the EU?
Spain holds the six-month presidency of the EU this second half of 2023 and Belgium will do so during the first six months of 2024. This role does not grant its representatives special powers in matters of foreign policy nor does it confer on them the ability to represent or speak on behalf of the EU in the international scene, which since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009 they assume the president of the European Council (Charles Michel) and the High Representative for the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (Joseph Borrell).
What is behind Israel’s diplomatic attack?
No EU head of state or government visiting a third country must inform or justify the visit or his position to the rest of the partners or European institutions. It falls within their sovereign powers (although it is generally assumed that there will be no travel to countries such as North Korea, Syria or Belarus). In Brussels, however, they take iron out of the virulent response of the Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and they frame it as an “exaggerated reaction” and “overaction” by the Israeli president for reasons of internal politics, to divert attention from the “failure” of the Government that is increasingly contested internally.
Does his message change the EU’s common position?
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Absolutely not. “This visit has been purely bilateral and has no impact on the position of the EU”, European spokesmen insist on the common European position woven with many difficulties in recent weeks and which happens to denounce the terrorist attack by Hamas, the request of the release of all the hostages and the search for a solution to the conflict based on the recognition of the two states: Israel and Palestine. “After the impact of the first days, the positions of the allies have been getting closer. There is talk of a two-state solution (…) There is a very high degree of cohesion on how to get out of this situation, understanding Israel’s right to defend itself, supporting the release of hostages and establishing a solution based on two states”, say other sources.
Is the EU considering recognizing Palestine now?
The issue is not currently on the table, although the EU insists that the solution to the conflict requires the recognition not only of Israel but also of Palestine. However, Pedro Sánchez did raise the possibility of unilaterally recognizing the territory during his trip to the area. So far they are 8 countries of the European Union which have recognized the existence of the territory as a state: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia they did in 1988 while 2014 did sweden with the social democrats in power. Currently, 22 member states have a physical presence in Palestine, the only ones without are Luxembourg, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and Slovakia, according to EU sources, which regularly sends a “non-resident representative” to Jerusalem and Ramal· lol
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