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Diaranson, 18 October 2023 AWEMainta INTERNATIONAL 47
EU Leaders to Convene Emergency Meeting
for Unified Response on Israel-Hamas Conflict
IN the wake of growing concerns over
the Israel-Gaza conflict and its poten-
tial to spiral into a broader crisis, EU
leaders are set to hold an emergency
summit on Tuesday. This gathering
aims to harmonize the EU’s response
to the ongoing conflict, following a
week marked by internal divisions and
discord.
The European Council President,
Charles Michel, issued a joint statement
on Sunday, after a weekend of relentless
outreach to all 27 EU member states.
However, the bloc’s efforts to present
a united front have been hampered by
recent disputes regarding funding for reach and the Commission’s failure to East, is prepared to provide swift
Palestine and Ursula von der Leyen’s consult on such a pivotal foreign policy support, including the potential estab-
visit to Israel. issue. lishment of refugee camps in Egypt.
In acknowledgment of recent errors,
There are apprehensions that the These divisions echoed similar such as the unilateral announce-
conflict’s fallout could weaken the EU’s disputes a month ago, when the EU’s ment by Hungary’s Commissioner for
support coalition in the global south, High Representative for Foreign Policy, Enlargement and Neighborhood to
including nations in Africa, the Middle Josep Borrell, expressed concerns over halt payments to Palestine without
East, and Asia, and potentially hinder a migration pact with Tunisia, which consulting fellow commissioners, Von
the progress of the Ukrainian peace was negotiated without prior consulta- der Leyen’s office is working to rectify
process. tion with member states. these mistakes.
In response to these concerns, member Moreover, a lack of coordination during Concerns are also focused on EU citi-
states have escalated efforts to main- a crisis, as observed in the past week, zens held by Hamas and the approxi-
tain a coordinated foreign policy. A has intensified tensions. President mately 1,000 EU civilians in Gaza, many
video conference has been scheduled Michel was displeased with being of whom are associated with NGOs.
for Friday to advance plans for human- excluded from Von der Leyen’s Israel There are worries about increased
itarian aid and address related matters. visit and not being consulted about it. anti-Semitism and hate crimes within
Notably, the European Council holds the EU.
The call for this emergency summit the legal mandate for shaping foreign
comes in the wake of missteps in policy. Ukraine remains a major source of
Brussels during the past week. concern, with the EU and the United
Criticism has emerged over President Von der Leyen’s supporters argue that States continuing their support.
Von der Leyen’s statements regarding Borrell was strongly encouraged to visit However, a broader conflict in the
Israel. Initially, she emphasized Israel’s Israel but was unavailable due to a trip Middle East poses challenges, including
right to self-defense against terrorist to China. They pointed out that there competition for military support and
attacks, only later urging compliance were no objections to her advocacy for political attention.
with international law. sanctions or her visit to Ukraine after
Russia’s invasion. As EU leaders grapple with these issues,
This omission sparked anger in some they aim to present a unified response
member states, while others voiced The EU, having recently tripled its to address the Israel-Gaza conflict and
their discontent over perceived over- humanitarian funding for the Middle mitigate its wider implications.
