Israel/Palestine: ‘Only a true political solution can bring peace’

EU High Representative Josep Borrell calls for a ceasefire and a ‘true political solution’ aiming at a relaunch of the peace process which has been 'in stalemate for too long.'

The statement was made following a special video conference with the EU’s foreign ministers. While there was no formal statement, the High Representative outlined an EU response, which he described as his ‘intellectual takeaway’. He tried to reflect the overall agreement of 26 out of 27 EU member states. Hungary refused to be part of the statement.

Borrell said: “The priority is the immediate cessation of all violence and the implementation of a ceasefire: not only agreed, but implemented. The purpose is to protect civilians, and to give full humanitarian access in Gaza. The second is to consider that the upsurge of violence in recent days has led to a high number of civilian casualties, death and injuries, among them a high number of children and women, this is unacceptable.”

Borrell condemned the rocket attacks by Hamas and fully supported Israel’s right to defend itself, but added that this must be done in a proportionate manner and respect international humanitarian law. He added that Palestinians also had a right to live in security. Borrell called for the respect of holy sites and an end to evictions of Palestinians. 

Stalemate for too long

Borrell said that only a “true solid political solution” could bring peace and that to achieve this violence had to stop and a “political horizon” opened. “Developing confidence-building measures and improving living conditions of the people will open the path towards the potential launching of the peace process,” said Borrell. He said that the situation had been in stalemate for too long. The EU and many foreign ministers have been in contact with the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken; there is also a new Special Representative to the ‘Quartet’ (the UN, EU, US and Russia), which Borrell hopes will renew engagement. 

Elections

Borrell said that the holding of Palestinian elections should be considered a priority and that no one should block the electoral process.

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