On Monday, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, presented his defense before the Foreign Ministers of the Twenty-seven. During his address, he emphasized the need for diplomacy in addressing the ongoing crisis in Gaza and expressed his belief that the best security option for Israel is to create a State of Palestine.
Borrell stated that he drew this conclusion after multiple contacts in the region and believes that creating a state will guarantee security for Israel. To achieve this goal, he plans to commission the EU External Action Service to create a document outlining options for Gaza’s future. He hopes that this document will be on the ministers’ table by December and will serve as a basis for relaunching the two-state solution.
During a videoconference with the Twenty-Seven, Borrell discussed his recent visit to Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. He highlighted the importance of diplomatic efforts in addressing Gaza from a humanitarian perspective and stressed that it is essential to reflect on what has happened since Israel launched its offensive. Borrell urged ministers to work towards implementing humanitarian pauses approved by the UN Security Council and warned against escalating tensions further.
Borrell also brought up an incident involving a ship hijacked by Yemeni rebels as part of their response to Gaza’s war. He emphasized that diplomacy is crucial in avoiding an uncontrollable escalation and called for rapid implementation of the UN resolution on this matter.
In summary, Borrell emphasized that diplomatic efforts are critical in resolving conflicts related to Gaza’s crisis and creating political solutions such as establishing a State of Palestine. He urged foreign ministers to work together towards these goals through cooperation and dialogue with all parties involved.