Brussels, Belgium – As Gaza is relentlessly bombed by Israel, greater than 800 EU officers have written to the bloc’s chief, Ursula von der Leyen, criticising her “uncontrolled” help of Israel.
The signatories of the letter, which Al Jazeera has seen, say they “hardly recognise the values of the EU”, claiming there’s a “seeming indifference demonstrated over the previous few days by our establishment in direction of the continued bloodbath of civilians within the Gaza Strip, in disregard for human rights and worldwide humanitarian legislation”.
They are saying they’re saddened by the Fee’s “double requirements”, because it considers the blockade of Ukraine by Russia as an act of terror, whereas Israel’s blockade of Gaza is “fully ignored”.
“If Israel doesn’t cease instantly, the entire Gaza Strip and its inhabitants shall be erased from the planet,” the letter learn.
“We urge you [von der Leyen] to name, along with the leaders of the entire Union, for a ceasefire and for the safety of civilian life. That is on the core of the EU existence,” they stated, warning “the EU dangers dropping all credibility”.
The letter represents deep divisions throughout the bloc on find out how to method the Israel-Gaza struggle, which in lower than two weeks has killed 1000’s of individuals.
The European Fee’s “latest unlucky actions or positions appear to present a free hand to the acceleration and the legitimacy of a struggle crime within the Gaza Strip”, the letter stated.
In Gaza, greater than 4,000 Palestinians have been killed, a lot of them youngsters.
“We might have been proud if the European Union … had referred to as for a direct cessation of hostilities and indiscriminate violence in opposition to civilians,” the letter learn.
The decision on von der Leyen follows different indicators of political friction within the West, with studies that US diplomats are making ready a “dissent cable” on the Center East struggle, a doc criticising Washington’s coverage that goes to State Division leaders.
The European Fee stated it was conscious of the letter and is able to have interaction with employees members and European residents to know their views.
“The President has stated on a number of events that ‘there isn’t any contradiction in standing in solidarity with Israel and appearing on the humanitarian wants of the Palestinian folks,’” a Fee spokesperson advised Al Jazeera.
“She has additionally stated, ‘There may be no hesitation on our [EU] aspect: Europe will all the time be on the aspect of humanity and of human rights.’”
An EU supply, who requested anonymity, advised Al Jazeera that the letter was unlikely to alter EU coverage, “nevertheless it exhibits the rising divide between many employees members who need to see worldwide legislation utilized throughout the globe”.
Von der Leyen, the European Fee president, is at present in the US for an EU-US Summit.
“We stand for peace and prosperity. Supporting Ukraine in its struggle for freedom. Standing by Israel and addressing humanitarian wants within the area,” she stated on Thursday.
‘They thought it might be a Ukraine second’
A second EU supply advised Al Jazeera that dissent is rising as a result of von der Leyen’s workforce “seems to have fully misinterpret the state of affairs”.
“They – her and her closest advisers – thought that this [Israel-Hamas war] could be a Ukraine second, and so they should condemn the terrorists and win the ethical argument. However I believe they’ve simply been purely unaware of the dimensions of oppression Palestinians have skilled, and the widespread understanding of the battle as this being a violent response to occupation,” the official advised Al Jazeera.
Good assembly along with @CharlesMichel with a bipartisan delegation from the US Senate.
The transatlantic partnership is powerful!
And extra wanted than ever in turbulent instances.
We stand for peace and prosperity.
Supporting Ukraine in its struggle for freedom.
Standing by… pic.twitter.com/2EsMMX42hJ
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 19, 2023
Von der Leyen is “nonetheless morally fighting find out how to take a stance”, the official stated, including that her place from now’s prone to rely on diplomatic efforts “on the worldwide scale and what US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says”.
“[Her] workforce try to regulate their line and acknowledge that they misinterpret the state of affairs. They’re attempting to put in writing a story the place they’ll nonetheless be seen as staunch allies of Israel, but additionally as a diplomatic pressure within the area, whereas attempting to keep up some stage of credibility vis a vis the struggle Ukraine,” the official stated.
“However on this case, it seems just like the Individuals would be the adults within the room,” the official added.
A number of streets away from the European Fee, an analogous sense of anger has been brewing amongst some staffers on the European Parliament, led by Roberta Metsola.
“To see two of the three presidents [von der Leyen and Metsola] abruptly in Israel, standing shoulder to shoulder with a regime which is killing civilians was fairly surprising,” a Parliament official, who requested anonymity, advised Al Jazeera.
“How has Macklemore taken a extra humane stance than the European Fee?” they stated, referring to the American rapper and singer who has referred to as for a “ceasefire in Israel” and likewise a “Free Palestine”.
In the meantime, the EU’s prime diplomat, Josep Borrell, has gained reward amongst some staffers who suppose he has a extra nuanced stance in direction of the present state of affairs in Gaza; all through the most recent struggle, he has repeatedly referred to as for each the discharge of Israeli hostages in Gaza and for assist to be hurried into the besieged strip on brink of collapse.
Kristina Kausch, a Madrid-based senior fellow on the German Marshall Fund of the US, stated “inconsistencies” present a glimpse into the “deep splits throughout the EU on this battle”.
Over the previous decade, she added, on the Israel-Palestine crises, the 27 nations of the bloc “have barely managed to place out any frequent statements”.
In consequence, EU coverage on the Israel-Palestine file, a key benchmark for the EU’s effectiveness as a worldwide actor, “has been helplessly stalled”, she stated.
On Thursday, on the European Parliament headquarters in Strasbourg, members adopted a decision calling for a “humanitarian pause” within the newest Israel-Gaza struggle.
However officers advised Al Jazeera of extra divisions – comparable to debates over whether or not “ceasefire” or “pause” must be used for the decision.
One official identified that the decision made no point out of the Israeli occupation or the blockade on Gaza.
A fourth EU official Al Jazeera spoke to described a tense ambiance throughout the establishment, with many feeling ashamed to work for the bloc.
“For my technology of staff, ‘By no means Once more’ really means one thing,” they stated. “We bear in mind 9/11 and many people protested the struggle in Iraq. So I believe lots of people have been horrified when von der Leyen and Metsola appeared to supply a carte blanche to Israel, apparently in our identify. It feels just like the area to precise solidarity with Palestinians is shrinking.
“The conflation of Jewish folks and the state of Israel can be an issue … The shortage of range of each Jewish and Muslim folks working for the EU doesn’t assist.”
