Brussels, 14/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 14 July, the Italian and German foreign affairs ministers - Federica Mogherini (whose country is currently holding the rotating presidency of the EU) and Frank-Walter Steinmeier respectively - travelled to the Middle East. Mogherini was due to meet Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Diplomatic efforts, however, currently seem ineffective. Despite international calls, neither Israel nor Hamas seem ready to impose a ceasefire. Before leaving, Mogherini called on the international community to “find the cohesion and courage to put an end to one of the longest wars in modern history”. She also said that an “immediate” truce was “essential”. “Israel has a right to its security and, at the same time, must have restraint. A ceasefire is needed very swiftly”, said France's President François Hollande on 14 July. He stated that his country's role was “to go and seek all possible mediation for peace”. Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, again condemned the rocket attacks on Israel, and she deplored the growing number of civilian victims through Israeli reprisals. “The safety and security of all civilians must be of prime importance”, she stated. Kocijancic stated that the EU was consulting its partners.
A meeting of ministers from the Arab League was scheduled for the evening of Monday 14 July. The ministers were due to call on the international community to protect the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. In a letter on 13 July, Abbas asked United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to put the Palestinian State under the “international protection” of the UN. Over 170 Palestinians have died and more than 1,000 have been wounded since the start of the Israeli offensive. (CG)