During a debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday 11 July, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, called for the resumption of the security cooperation between Israel and Palestine.
The Palestinian Authority announced the end of this cooperation at the end of January, following an operation by the Israeli army in Jenin.
Since the beginning of 2023, more than 130 Palestinians, including at least 22 children, have died in clashes with the IDF or Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem - more than double the number in the same period in 2022 - and 31 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians, the Commissioner pointed out, also highlighting “the alarming increase in demolitions, evictions and settlement expansion”.
“All of these developments only fuel the cycle of violence that has accelerated to alarming levels in recent months. (...) It is clear that the only way out of this vicious circle is to return to effective security cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel”, she explained.
But, in her view, “the security aspect cannot be separated from the political aspect”. “However remote it may seem today, there is no viable alternative to the two-state solution, and the longer it takes, the more difficult it will become”, she warned.
The EU has been working for several months to relaunch peace efforts with regional partners (see EUROPE 13120/13).
With regard to EU-Palestinian relations, Ms Urpilainen called on donors to support the Palestinians, and on the Palestinian Authority to continue its financial reforms as a matter of urgency. “Israel must also respect the agreements signed and take the necessary measures to relieve the Palestinians of their financial pressures”, she added.
Ms Urpilainen also stressed the need to organise national elections “as soon as possible”.
The first regular political dialogue at ministerial level with the Palestinians is due to take place in the autumn. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)