Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Following a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saak, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas said, "We have declared our solidarity with Israel and its people, following the horrific attacks of October 7, 2023. I reiterate now what I have said before: the resumption of negotiations is the only way to end the suffering of all parties." According to a statement from Kallas's office in Brussels that included these remarks, the European official added, "Violence fuels more violence. What we are witnessing now is a dangerous escalation. It causes unbearable uncertainty for the hostages and their families, and terror and death for the Palestinian people." Addressing the Israeli Foreign Minister, she said, "As I emphasized when we met a month ago, Israel's security is of paramount importance to the European Union. Israelis must feel safe in their homes. Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, whether from Hamas, the Houthis, or Hezbollah. However, military action must be proportionate. Israeli strikes on Syria and Lebanon portend further escalation. The key steps here are reactivating the ceasefire; securing the release of all hostages; and resuming the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza—with the goal of achieving a lasting ceasefire. The European Union can help, whether by reaffirming our mandate at the Rafah crossing or by providing more humanitarian aid. We had a very frank discussion, and I thank you for that. It is difficult to look forward when the bombs are falling, but we need to keep hope alive. The European Union welcomes the Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza. I discussed it yesterday in Cairo with Foreign Minister Abdel Ati and the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee. More work is needed on issues such as cost-sharing and the future of the administration of Gaza, but we consider it a good basis." Moving forward. I also raised the EU's concerns about the situation in the West Bank.
Finally, regarding Iran, we agree on the enormous threat Iran poses to the region and global stability. Iran also poses a threat through its support for Russia's war in Ukraine. Iran must never be allowed to possess or manufacture a nuclear weapon, and the EU supports all diplomatic efforts in this regard. The European official took a number of questions during the joint press conference in Israel, including the following: Q: Given everything that is happening in Europe, Ukraine, and elsewhere, do you believe Europe has the capacity, and frankly the political interest, to play a leading role in helping shape Gaza's future after the war?
Our neighbors' problems today are our problems tomorrow. Therefore, what happens in Gaza and what happens in Israel are very important to us. And of course, we see no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza. We urgently need to discuss how to envision the future governance of Gaza, and the EU is ready to participate in these discussions to prevent these problems from recurring in the future. Obviously, the EU supports the fight against terrorism, and Israel's security is very important to the EU, but the rights of the Palestinians must also be respected. Q: When you talk about what should happen in Gaza, you don't talk about an Israeli victory or a Hamas defeat. You say, "Negotiations must begin. Violence begets more violence." Do these same principles apply to the war between Russia and Ukraine in Europe? The European official responded, "Yes, the same principles apply. Russia brutally attacked Ukraine and violated its territorial integrity and the sovereignty of another country. If they stop killing people in Ukraine, the war will stop—because the war is not on Russian territory."
Q: Israel, and specifically Minister Sa'ar, has a very negative attitude toward the interim government in Syria and Mr. Sharaa. They warn the West and the European Union against being drawn to the jihadist in suits—and they want Russian bases to remain in Syria. What is your view of this position and your position on Israel's occupation of the buffer zone and the call for demilitarization south of Damascus in Syria?
Kalassi said, "Okay. I have a longer answer. Regarding your question about the interim government in Syria: Of course, our concerns are the same. They say the right things; but will they do the right thing? We have discussed this in the European Union, among all member states. Our view is that we need a stable Syria. The Syrian people have suffered greatly. Syria is a very diverse country, with different groups, so the new government in Syria must take these groups into account. Why are we moving forward with lifting sanctions? To build Syria, the people need services. If the people have access to services, businesses will be able to establish themselves, create jobs, and pay salaries, and thus the people will feel hopeful. And if they have hope, there will be less clashes and chaos because they see that there is a future. That is our approach now. Yes, we are considering this gradual approach. We want to see, and we have pressure on them to do the right things as well, not just to say the right things. We are also in constant contact with Syrian civil society, because they provide us with a fair and just vision in response to what is happening. So, I think we have a small window of opportunity to put things on the right track, and we have to take advantage of it, because we have no other options. Thank you.
Q: Have you discussed what Israel has been doing in this regard? Do you have a clear position? Kallas replied, "Yes, of course, we discussed this, Israel's actions, and we see these matters as unnecessary, because Syria is not currently attacking Israel. This fuels more extremism directed against Israel as well, which is something we do not want to see, because Israel's security, as I mentioned, is very important to us as well."