Allies get ‘abdominal pain’ from Israel, but policies do not yet seriously adjust

Is something tilting in the reactions to the Israeli performance in Gaza? Especially since the well -documented execution of fifteen care providers at Rafah, there is a sharper tone here and there.

In the Netherlands, for example, where Minister Caspar Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs, NSC) has summoned the Israeli ambassador for the first time in a long time. In France, where President Emmanuel Macron announced that he wants to recognize Palestine. And in Israel itself, where nearly a thousand members of the Air Force have signed a call to end the war.

On Monday, the Foreign Ministers of the EU Member States will meet in Luxembourg. Among other things, they will discuss the situation in the Middle East there. They also talk to Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa of the Palestinian Authority.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza War, Europe has been particularly divided: countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands are fairly unconditionally behind Israel. Ireland and Spain, on the other hand, often stand up for the rights of the Palestinians.

Epic division

This epic division is expressed in great difficulty, among other things, to speak out about clear violations in the area. Therefore, joint explanations of the 27 EU member states often lead to prose.

For example, look at the EU’s response after Israel unilaterally broke the ceasefire last month, says director Martin Konecny ​​of the Brussels think tank European Middle East Project. « The Member States could not agree that they ‘condemn the action of Israel’ (to condemn). The final explanation states that they only ‘regret’ the end of the ceasefires (to Deplore). And immediately afterwards Hamas is called upon to release all hostages. You can blame Hamas a lot, for example how they exhibited the free hostages, but here Hamas was precisely the party that had kept to the agreements. ”

How unwavering are those European positions in the light of increasingly serious Israeli human rights violations? When does the international community decide that the Israeli war crimes in Gaza have exceeded a border?

In The Hague there also seems to be something to shift at the right -wing coalition parties. In response to summoning the ambassador by Minister Veldkamp, ​​Pieter Omtzigt (NSC) and Dilan Yesilgöz (VVD) emphasized the Israeli ‘right to self -defense’. But they also came with cautious nuances. « There are limits to what you can see as self -defense, » Omtzigt said at the NOS, for example. Yesilgöz said that there are « things » that get « abdominal pain. » « You can also say to allies: how is this possible? »

At the Israeli air raid on a building in Shejaiya, a suburb of Gaza city, at least 29 people were killed on Wednesday.

Photos Omar al-Qattaa/AFP

Yet it is also not complicated to find evidence for the opposite statement: something never changes. Take the Israeli ambassador who had to come from Veldkamp. The minister did not even speak to Modi Ephraim personally, but sent a senior official. And that changed attitude of the coalition parties: is it not so subtle that she barely does anything?

The critical Israeli soldiers, in turn, have been told that they no longer have to come back. Prime Minister Netanyahu called it an « unforgivable » expression of a « marginal and extremist group that again tries to break the Israeli society from the inside. » Incidentally, the members of the Israeli Air Force are not critical because of the treatment of Palestinians, but because, according to them, the war is « will lead to the death of hostages, IDF soldiers and innocent citizens, and the exhaustion of the reservists. »

Silent

Despite some critical sounds about the Israeli action, the Brussels think tank director Konecny ​​does not see too much changing for the time being. Since December 1 last year, when the new European Commission took office, he finds that Israel is being addressed less hard. « The previous foreign chef, Josep Borrell, was very critical. His successor, Kaja Kallas, who can call Russia so strong, keeps up with Israel. »

Konecny ​​also sees less political will in other areas to tackle Israel. The Member States of the International Criminal Court who refuse to arrest the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Or withdrawing subsidies to UNRWA, the UN organization for Palestinian refugees that offers a lot of basic assistance in Gaza.

Konecny: « Also look at the ‘Association Council’, a formal meeting of the EU with Israel. It is then said: We have strongly addressed Israel to stop assistance to Gaza and on the settlements! Israel also speaks nice words, but then violates all the agreements.

According to the Czech analyst, however, it is not that Israel is not addressed at all. In the European Parliament, a motion has been adopted that evokes an assessment of the human rights clause in the association agreement with Israel. That clause enables Europe to take ‘appropriate measures’ in the event of serious human rights violations from the other party. That could, for example, retain the suspension of trade benefits.

Konecny: « The killing of the fifteen care providers is the least defensible that happened in this war. The human rights situation has never been so reprehensible. Maybe Europe can be a bit stronger than » Foei Israel, it’s not so nice what you do. « 

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