At the time of going to press on Monday 20 November, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, was meeting the European foreign ministers to brief them on his trip to the Middle East. After Israel (see EUROPE 13294/18) and Palestine (see EUROPE 13295/3), the High Representative visited Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan to discuss the situation in Gaza and the two-State solution with political leaders.
Initially invited to take part in the informal Council, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal, who is visiting China, will attend the next Foreign Affairs Summit on 11 December. He will also be present at the Union for the Mediterranean meeting on 27 November, which will focus on the crisis in the Middle East.
Implementing the Security Council resolution
During his various visits to the Middle East, Mr Borrell reiterated the importance of helping the civilian population in Gaza and of implementing the resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council calling for immediate, urgent and lasting humanitarian relief. “The decisions of the United Nations Security Council are not just words. They are mandatory and must be implemented”, he said after his meeting with the Qatari Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.
The High Representative and his interlocutors “discussed the same thing: how to put an end to the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza. This is the challenge we must try to meet. Our joint efforts are more necessary than ever”, he explained.
Mr Borrell recalled that the United Nations considered the situation in Gaza to be “one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time”. “In French, we speak of ‘carnage’”, he added, explaining that the people of Gaza had “no responsibility for the crimes committed on the kibbutzes” and should not pay for them.
As well as providing humanitarian assistance, Mr Borrell called for peace. “It makes no sense to buy me dinner tonight if you’re going to kill me tomorrow. So, yes, humanitarian aid is necessary, but what is even more necessary is to stop the cause of the need for humanitarian aid”, he explained.
According to the head of European diplomacy, the humanitarian phase must become the first stage of a political phase. “The two-state solution is the only viable outcome”, he reiterated. “In the midst of this horrific crisis, the international community and, in particular, the Europeans and Arabs must perhaps realise that they have a particular responsibility in the search for a solution”, said the High Representative.
30 years after the Oslo Accords, we need to “finally define the stages and principles” that will lead to a two-state solution, “to move from declarations to concrete action and implementation”.
The head of European diplomacy said he was aware of the efforts that would be required, both economically to rebuild Gaza, and politically, “not only to build houses, but also a State”, by which he meant the Palestinian State. According to him, “the Arab countries must assume their political responsibilities. And in particular those who maintain good relations with Israel and whom the Palestinian Authority trusts”. He cited the “crucial” role that Egypt and Jordan had to play, as well as Saudi Arabia.
Strengthening humanitarian support
For her part, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visited Egypt on Saturday 18 November and Jordan on Sunday 19 November.
Speaking from Egypt’s El Arish airport, she recalled that over the last month, the EU had quadrupled its humanitarian aid to more than €100 million, and that the Member States had provided €260 million. The EU also carried out 15 humanitarian flights.
“We all agree that we need to increase the volume of aid reaching Gaza”, she added. Pointing to Cyprus’ proposal for a maritime corridor, she said that the Commission was in close contact with the Cypriot authorities to help them define the logistical parameters of such a corridor.
Ms von der Leyen announced that the EU was supporting Egypt in its aid to the wounded Palestinians, for example with medical equipment such as anaesthesia machines from Sweden or ventilators, oxygen concentrators and ultrasound machines from the EU’s emergency reserve. On Monday 20 November, 28 premature babies from Gaza’s al-Chifa hospital arrived in Egypt. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)