The EU foreign ministers want to discuss the course of Middle East policy in Luxembourg. A common line is sorely needed, because so far there has been a complete mess regarding this issue.
Finding ways out of the war or at least preventing it from spreading like wildfire in the region – that is what Europe’s foreign ministers will be dealing with in Luxembourg today. But first they must take a critical stock of what has happened so far. For two weeks now, Europe’s Middle East policy has seemed like a complete mess, determined by national interests and personal profile neuroses.
The reaction to the Hamas terrorist attack was chaotic: First, an EU commissioner rushed forward and announced on his own authority that development aid for the Palestinian autonomous areas would be stopped. It took hours until the Hungarian’s solo attempt was corrected. Of course, humanitarian aid would continue to be provided for the people, it was said.
criticism of President of the Commission von der Leyen
Shortly afterwards, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen herself came under criticism – at least from those who are closer to the Palestinians than to the Israelis. Her accusation: The head of the commission set the wrong tone during her solidarity visit to Israel. It was just about a few words, or more precisely about words that weren’t said. “Israel has the right to defend itself,” Ursula von der Leyen said in the joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel even has the duty to defend its people.
At this point the critics missed a restriction. Self-defense, yes, but within the limits of international humanitarian law. In view of the places devastated by Islamist terror, the Commission President opted for a more cautious formulation. “I know the way Israel responds will show that it is a democracy.” Hardly anyone in Brussels took note of the fact that French President Emmanuel Macron had previously made a very similar statement – Israel has the right to defend itself and strike back, “strongly and justly”.
No uniform EU position
Von der Leyen spoke in Israel of the images of violated children, of young parents who hid their babies before they were killed by Islamist terrorists. Those close to her said that she had asked Netanyahu in a personal conversation to moderate his reaction.
Is this a German position? At least one that does not correspond to the official EU line, critics accuse her of doing. Irish President Michael Higgins is the loudest. According to the Independent, he said that the German “does not speak for Ireland.” A country that traditionally stands on the side of the Palestinians.
Von der Leyen did not hesitate to point out the precarious situation of the Palestinians to Netanyahu. But different than what their opponents had wanted. “The horror that Hamas has unleashed,” she said, “is only bringing more suffering to innocent Palestinians!” They are also threatened. The Palestinians are victims of the Hamas terrorists, something similar was also heard from the German Chancellor.
The fact that the President of the Commission repeatedly referred to international law as a framework for the Israeli reaction after returning from Israel was no longer able to calm the heated emotions. Of all people, the Europeans’ chief diplomat, the Spaniard Josep Borrell, drove into the parade for the Commission President. Israel’s evacuation order for the people in Gaza City alone is essentially a breach of international law. Spanish government politicians see it the same way, some are even calling for a ceasefire, which would effectively amount to a rejection of Israel’s right to self-defense.
Competition between Michel and von der Leyen
Council President Charles Michel also sees the matter as a personal challenge. People around him say that it is not von der Leyen who is responsible for Europe’s foreign policy, but rather the member states. Which corresponds to the statutes, but leaves the question open as to why the head of the EU Commission should not make a solidarity visit to Israel. In any case, no such accusations were heard during von der Leyen’s visits to Kiev.
Michel has long seen Ursula von der Leyen as a competitor. A woman who collects points on the international stage while he clearly finds it difficult to shine. With a trembling voice, Michel announced that the foreign ministers of the member states should now take the crisis in the Middle East into their own hands. “Under constant monitoring and exchanging information with us!”
Disagreement among the member countries
But the personal skirmishes between the two are not the only source of unrest that is making Europe look so weak in the newly ignited Middle East war. The governments in the capitals are also divided by a sharp line. On the one hand, there are countries that are traditionally close to the Palestinians, such as Belgium and Luxembourg, but also larger countries such as Spain and Ireland.
France was also part of this group for a long time. Against the background of Islamist crimes in French cities and possibly also out of concern about the resulting influx of the extreme right, the French president appears to be reorienting himself. After the recent murder of a teacher by a radical Islamist, his interior minister complains about an “atmosphere of jihadism” in the country.
Many French people are afraid of the so-called importation of the conflict, while others state that it has been there for a long time. France is home to the largest Jewish community in Europe, around 500,000 people. After the Hamas attacks began, Macron assured: “It is our most important duty to protect the Jews in our country.” According to EU diplomatic circles, France’s president is currently maneuvering back and forth between old foreign policy certainties.
A common course is needed
At the top of the EU countries that expressly and unequivocally support Israel are Germany, Austria and Hungary. Overall, this group actually represents the majority, according to German diplomatic circles. But Europe’s Middle East policy is not about majorities, but about a somewhat uniform line that everyone can support.
Finding them is now the task of the EU foreign ministers. The German minister, Annalena Baerbock, had previously also taken part in the Middle East summit in Egypt’s capital Cairo and set two accents. She once again assured Israel of full solidarity in the fight against Hamas terror and called on international partners to provide more help for the people in the Gaza Strip.
Germany is increasing aid for Gaza by 50 million euros in the short term – the only question is how much of the aid will arrive, given the mutual attacks from Gaza and Israel.