Borrell responds to Israel: “At the Association Council very serious issues on the table”

Brussels – No friendly Hungarian government to chair the EU-Israel Association Council convened by the 27 member countries. Josep Borrell warns Tel Aviv: the summit is chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, not by the rotating presidency of the EU Council. And the European diplomacy chief has no intention of discounting his partner, which is under indictment for the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza: “It is clear that we have very, very serious issues to put on the table,” he warns.

In Luxembourg, together with the foreign ministers of the Twenty-Seven, Borrell examined the letter with which Benjamin Netanyahu’s government said it was willing to “consider” an invitation from Brussels to meet at the highest level and discuss the implementation of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. But only on the condition that all elements of EU-Israel bilateral relations, including trade, education, and culture, be addressed there.”

Israel does not want any presumption of guilt. It will not come to Brussels to discuss only its human rights commitments and how it is handling its war on Hamas. But Borrell, on the sidelines of work with EU ministers, replied harshly and with a hint of sarcasm, “This will not be a meeting like the others; we did not convene this meeting to talk about the implementation of Erasmus.”

The High Representative will now have to coordinate with EU governments in an effort to agree on a common agenda and position to bring to the meeting with Tel Aviv. “Member states will receive a report on the update of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, which will bring together all the information that the UN agencies have gathered regarding the rights, humanitarian crisis, and responsibilities that the UN is reporting,” Borrell explained at a press conference. In particular, the report drafted a week ago by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in which Israel’s “relentless” attacks throughout the war-torn enclave are condemned, and war crimes committed by both sides are mentioned.

Without unanimity on the position to be taken toward Israel, the Association Council will not be held. In other words, Borrell will have to try to find a compromise with those countries, primarily  Hungary that, from July 1, will take over the rotating presidency of the EU Council, most reluctant to condemn the crimes committed by the Israeli Defense Forces against the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza. Then, it will be necessary to agree with Tel Aviv on a date. Given Borrell’s determination, Israel has every interest in postponing a meeting that could challenge its trade privileges with the EU. After all, Borrell will not remain the High Representative much longer.