Page 6 - aruba-today-20220602

A6 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 2 June 2022
Exit polls: Danish voters now want to join EU defense policy

By JAN M. OLSEN fense opt-out.
Associated Press One of the founding mem-
COPENHAGEN, Denmark bers of NATO, Denmark has
(AP) — Around two thirds of stayed on the sidelines of
Danish voters in a referen- the EU’s efforts to build a
dum Wednesday backed common security and de-
joining the European fense policy in parallel with
Union’s common defense the trans-Atlantic military
policy, exit polls indicated, alliance.
in a new example of a Eu- For decades, Europe’s
ropean country seeking been a source of conten-
closer defense links with al- tion in Denmark. In 1992,
lies after Russia’s invasion of voters set back plans to turn
Ukraine. the European construction
TV2 broadcaster said that into a union by rejecting
66.6% voted in favor of the Maastricht treaty amid
ending Denmark’s 30-year widespread opposition to a
opt-out from EU defense federal European govern-
policy which would have ment that could limit the
limited practical effect for sovereignty of individual
either Denmark or the EU nations.
and 33.4% against. Public At an EU summit in Edin-
broadcaster DR had the burgh, Scotland, later that
figures at 69.1% for and year, European leaders
30.9% against. The five leaders of the political parties belonging to the ‘National Compromize’ campaign for a agreed on a text with tai-
The polls were published YES, in the center of Copenhagen, Wednesday June 1, 2022. lor-made provisions allow-
just after voting ended. Associated Press ing Danes to ratify a revised
The referendum follows fel- treaty with four provisions.
low Nordic Sweden and ish Institute for International operations. tion Conservative Party told They allowed Danes to stay
Finland’s historic bids to Studies, said both moves It would be the first time party members. out of a joint EU citizenship,
join NATO something to be were “part of the same sto- that one of the four Dan- “I believe people have justice and home affairs,
taken up at a summit next ry,” and would strengthen ish opt-outs from the EU’s voted yes because of the the monetary union which
month. military cooperation on a Maastricht Treaty, which war in Ukraine. The ‘yes’ allowed Danes to stay out
NATO member Denmark continent stunned by the laid the foundation for po- side has tried to misuse the of the euro and keep the
joining the EU’s defense pol- war in Ukraine. litical and economic union, war in Ukraine to make the krone, and defense.
icy would have a relatively The main effect of aban- is scrapped by voters in Danes feel that it is impor- The citizenship issue, which
modest impact on Europe’s doning the opt-out will be Denmark. tant that we stand togeth- said European citizenship
security architecture, par- that Danish officials could “A lot indicates that af- er,” said Morten Messer- would not replace national
ticularly compared to Swe- stay in the room when EU ter 30 years Danes have schmidt, the leader of the citizenship, has since be-
den and Finland joining colleagues discuss defense decided to get rid of the opposition Danish People’s come irrelevant as other
NATO. But Christine Nissen, topics, and Danish forces defense waiver,” Søren Party and a leading oppo- members later adopted
a researcher with the Dan- can take part in EU military Pape, head of the opposi- nent of removing the de- the same position.q

Israeli army kills Palestinian woman it says carried knife

soldiers were wounded. count. neighborhood in east Jeru-
The Palestinian Health Minis- The Palestinian Journalists’ salem.
try identified the woman as Syndicate said Warasna Recent weeks have seen
Ghafran Warasna and said had worked on and off as at least 35 Palestinians
she was shot in the chest. a journalist for more than killed by Israeli forces.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ a decade. Dream Radio, Some were gunmen killed
Club said the 31-year-old a local station in Hebron, in fighting with Israel, while
had been released from said she was on the way to others were shot while al-
Israeli prison in April after their studio for a broadcast legedly throwing stones or
serving three months. when she was killed. firebombs at Israeli troops
An Israeli security official Israeli-Palestinian violence in the West Bank. But Abu
said Warasna was jailed has intensified in recent Akleh, an unarmed woman
from January to March af- weeks with near-daily arrest and at least two people
ter attempting to stab an raids by the Israeli military in who were bystanders were
Israeli police officer in the the West Bank following a also among those killed.
A woman mourns Ghafran Warasna, who died after she was West Bank city of Hebron. string of attacks by Palestin- Palestinians have carried
shot in the chest near the Al-Aroub refugee camp, close to the The official, speaking on ians that have killed at least out dozens of stabbing at-
West Bank city of Hebron, Wednesday, June 1, 2022.
Associated Press condition of anonymity be- 19 people. tacks in recent years, often
cause he was not autho- Tensions have soared fol- against Israeli soldiers. But Is-
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli The military released a rized to talk to the media, lowing the killing in the rael has also faced criticism
troops shot and killed a photo of what it said was said she attempted to stab West Bank of Palestinian- from rights groups who say
Palestinian woman in the the knife she was carrying. the soldier on Wednesday American journalist Shireen security forces sometimes
occupied West Bank on It said the soldiers were pa- at “point-blank range.” Abu Akleh, who worked use deadly force rather
Wednesday who they said trolling a highway near the There were no photos or for Al Jazeera, and an Is- than arresting suspected
had approached them Al-Aroub refugee camp in videos immediately avail- raeli ultranationalist march attackers or stop them with
while carrying a knife. the southern West Bank. No able to confirm the ac- through a Palestinian nondeadly force.q