Palestinian & Israel conflict-EU lacks unified approach
THE world’s most dangerous flashpoint, Israel and Palestine, has been at war again for over eight months. Every time the border shootings, bomb explosions, and isolated rocket attacks escalate into full-fledged war, resulting in the killing of innocent civilians, we witness the sad and depressing disunity and apathy of Muslim leaders and the open support of Western countries for Israel, who take pride in condemning the Palestinian cause, despite Muslims being the sole victims. In late October, as the war in Gaza intensified, all 27 European Union leaders reiterated their condemnation of Hamas’s attack on Israel and reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself. They also expressed “gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza” and emphasized the need for aid access, “including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs.”
This was supposed to be the EU’s unified stance on the conflict in the Middle East. Reaching it took five hours and was seen as so sensitive that phones were kept out of the room, according to a report in Politico. That same week, at the United Nations, Europe split on a Gaza ceasefire resolution. Countries like Spain, Ireland, and France voted for it. Germany and Italy, among others, abstained. Austria, Hungary, and Czechia all voted against it. Despite Europe’s best efforts, its divisions were on display. “It is these divisions which make it hard for the EU to take a strong, united common position,” said Martin Konečný, Director of the European Middle East Project (EuMEP), an independent, Brussels-based organization. “They can agree on a........
© Pakistan Observer
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