In a letter sent to the President of the European Commission on Friday 20 October, 841 officials from the European Union institutions strongly criticised Ursula von der Leyen’s double standards in Israel following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli citizens (see EUROPE 13271/2).
Strongly condemning the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas, the signatories of the letter, a copy of which has been sent to EUROPE, say they are “concerned by the unconditional support of the Commission you represent, for one of the two parties”, a support which is being expressed “in an uncontrolled manner, for example, EC buildings lit up with the Israeli flag”. They feel they cannot remain silent when “the Institution you represent as President not only has been unable to halt the Palestinian tragedy unfolding for decades in full impunity, but (...) seem to give a free hand to the acceleration and the legitimacy of a war crime in the Gaza Strip”.
“We would have been proud if the European Union, beacon of democracy, human rights, and rule of law, and Nobel peace prize in 2012, had called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and indiscriminate violence against civilians”, added the European officials. Instead, they argue, the Commission’s “partisan” stance “has contributed to widening the gap between Europe and the Muslim world, both inside and outside the Union’s borders, and to increasing anti-Semitic sentiments”.
And the signatories urge Ms von der Leyen, as well as European leaders, to “call (...) for a ceasefire and the protection of civilian lives. This is at the core of the EU’s existence” and to “actively contribute to the creation of an independent Palestinian State” on the basis of the 1967 borders, in accordance with UN resolutions.
See the letter from the 841 European officials: https://aeur.eu/f/96v (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)