BRUSSELS (AP) — Relations between the European Union and Israel took a nosedive on the eve of the diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state by EU members Eire and Spain, with Madrid suggesting sanctions needs to be thought of towards Israel for its continued assaults within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah.
Israeli Overseas Minister Israel Katz advised Spain that its consulate in Jerusalem is not going to be allowed to assist Palestinians.
On the identical time, the EU’s international coverage chief Josep Borrell, a Spaniard, threw his full weight to assist the Worldwide Felony Court docket, whose prosecutor is in search of an arrest warrant towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, together with the leaders of Hamas.
“The prosecutor of the court has been strongly intimidated and accused of antisemitism – as always when anybody, anyone does something that Netanyahu’s government does not like,” Borrell stated. “The word antisemitic, it’s too heavy. It’s too important.”
Offended phrases abounded Monday, with Katz accusing Spain of “rewarding terror” by recognizing a Palestinian state, and saying that “the days of the Inquisition are over.” He referred to the notorious Spanish establishment began within the fifteenth century to keep up Roman Catholic orthodoxy that pressured Jews and Muslims to flee, convert to Catholicism or, in some cases, face demise.
“No one will force us to convert our religion or threaten our existence — those who harm us, we will harm in return,” stated Katz.
Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP through Getty Pictures
Though the EU and its member nations have been steadfast in condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault through which militants stormed throughout the Gaza border into Israel, killing 1,200 folks and taking some 250 hostage, the bloc has been equally important of Israel’s ensuing offensive that has killed greater than 35,000 Palestinians, based on Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The most recent assaults have centered on Rafah, the place Palestinian well being employees stated Israeli airstrikes killed no less than 35 folks Sunday, hit tents for displaced folks and left “numerous” others trapped in flaming particles.
Italian Protection Minister Guido Crosetto stated that such strikes could have long-standing repercussions. “Israel with this choice is spreading hatred, rooting hatred that will involve their children and grandchildren. I would have preferred another decision,″ he told SKY TG24.
The strikes came after the U.N.’s top court, the International Court of Justice, on Friday demanded that Israel immediately halt its offensive on Rafah, even if it stopped short of ordering a cease-fire for the Gaza enclave.
“Israel has to stop its offensive in Rafah,” Spanish Overseas Minister José Manuel Albares stated.
Spain, Eire and non-EU member Norway plan to make official their recognition of a Palestinian state on Tuesday. Their joint announcement final week triggered an indignant response from Israeli authorities, which summoned the nations’ ambassadors in Tel Aviv to the Israeli Overseas Ministry, the place they had been filmed whereas being proven movies of the Oct. 7 Hamas assault and kidnapping.
Albares criticized the remedy of the ambassadors. “We reject something that is not within diplomatic courtesy and the customs of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” he stated.
“But at the same time we have also agreed that we are not going to fall into any provocation that distances us from our goal,” he added. “Our aim is to recognize the state of Palestine tomorrow, make all possible efforts to achieve a permanent cease-fire as soon as possible and also, in the end, to achieve that definitive peace.”
Colleen Barry contributed from Milan.
