Brussels, 18/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - “Gravely concerned” at the growing tension and increasing violence in the Middle East, the EU foreign affairs ministers condemned, on Monday 17 November, the recent terrorist attacks and called on the political leaders to work together through visible actions to de-escalate the situation (see other article).
The Council “urges all parties to refrain from any action that would worsen the situation by way of incitement, provocation, excessive use of force or retaliation”, the ministers stated in their conclusions. They said they were particularly concerned at “worrying developments and recurrent violent clashes at the Haram al- Sharif / Temple Mount” in Jerusalem, and appealed for “full respect of the Holy Sites”. “Any change of the status quo would have deeply destabilising effects”, the ministers warned. They said they looked forward to a “swift and effective” implementation of the measures agreed between King Abdullah of Jordan, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 13 November to de-escalate the situation.
EU criticises several Israeli projects. The actions that call into question the commitments taken for a negotiated solution must be avoided, the EU ministers also stated. They are “strongly” opposed to the recent expropriation of land near Bethlehem, and condemned the recent announcements of plans for new settlement construction, as well as plans to displace Bedouins in the West Bank and the continued demolitions, including of EU and member state-funded projects. The ministers therefore said that Israel must reverse these decisions “which run counter to international law and directly threaten the two state solution” “Recent settlement activity in East Jerusalem seriously jeopardises the possibility of Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both states”, the ministers added. They said that they remain “committed to ensure continued, full and effective implementation of existing EU legislation and bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products”. Stating that it is monitoring the situation and its broader implications closely, the Council warned that “the EU remains ready to take further action in order to protect the viability of the two state solution” based on the co-existence of two states. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini nevertheless stated that the EU had no plan to impose sanctions, contrary to what has been stated in Israeli media.
New call for end to Gaza blockade. The EU ministers also returned to the situation in Gaza. In the face of the “dire” humanitarian situation, they underlined that basic restoration of infrastructure and services was still urgently needed. “The EU calls for a fundamental change of the political, security and economic situation in the Gaza Strip, including the end of the closure”, they added. “The EU stands ready to play a key role in international efforts to support a durable ceasefire, including through the rapid reactivation and possible extension in scope and mandate of its EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS mission”, the ministers reiterated, urging “all the relevant parties to create the conditions to allow it to play such a role”. Mogherini stated that the political conditions on the ground prevented the missions from being relaunched immediately. “The control of the crossing points must be carried out in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority, but so long as we don't have the Palestinian Authority on site to control the crossing points, it will be complicated for a European mission to work on the ground”, she said (our translation).
The EU hailed the efforts for the resumption of negotiations, reiterating that it is ready to play a key role and to contribute actively to a negotiated settlement of all issues linked to the final status. While recognition of a Palestinian state is an EU member state decision, Mogherini said that it was at least necessary to exchange information on the initiatives of parliaments and the responses of European governments on the issue and to share the broad lines of action. (CG)