European Union diplomats yesterday called for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, but failed to reach a unified position that would give the bloc influence in peace efforts.
Hungary, Israel's closest ally in the bloc, refused to join the 26 ministers in calling for a ceasefire at a video conference convened by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
However, the other ministers promised that the EU will try to restore the peace process together with the USA, Russia and the United Nations.
"The least we can do is try to achieve a ceasefire, then provide humanitarian aid, and then see what can be done to restore the Middle East peace process to address the causes of the violence," Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo told Reuters.
"We cannot allow extremists on both sides to feed each other and set the agenda," he said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters in Paris that the Middle East Quartet of mediators, consisting of the EU, Russia, the UN and the US, is the right forum for the renewal of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which was suspended in 2014.
"We must restart the peace process as soon as possible and find a way to dialogue," he said.
Weeks of Israeli-Palestinian tensions erupted into armed conflict early last week, and Turkey has been particularly vocal in its criticism of the West's failure to react quickly, Reuters points out.
Washington has long been a key broker in Middle East peace efforts, but President Joe Biden did not publicly endorse the idea of a ceasefire until his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.
The EU is Israel's largest trading partner and a major donor of aid to the Palestinians. However, the bloc does not want to use that influence or discuss possible economic sanctions against the Israeli government.
At least eight smaller EU members, led by Luxembourg and including Belgium, Ireland, Malta, and Finland, are vocal in their defense of the Palestinians. Several Belgian MPs called on the EU this Sunday to impose a travel ban and asset freeze on Israeli politicians due to the new escalation of violence.
Germany, which Reuters reminds us still bears the burden of guilt for Nazi crimes in the Second World War, does not want to discuss coercive measures against Israel but yesterday promised 40 million euros in humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza.
Other states, including Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, Greece, Cyprus and Poland prefer to speak in favor of Israel. On Friday, Austria raised the Israeli flag over the federal office building in Vienna.
Netanyahu found an ally in Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, ready to block statements and actions directed against Israel.
"The European Union should now play a leading role in combating the crisis. It does not have that role, the reason for that is either the differences in the approach of the member states or the fact that there is no strategic approach from Brussels," said the Cypriot head of diplomacy, Nikos Christodoulides.
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