Austria: Parties “joining forces” with Israel

2023-10-10 02:04:00

The major attack by Hamas in the Gaza Strip yesterday also put the Austrian federal government on alert. Around midday, the Iranian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry. The official reaction from Tehran to the barbaric attack on Israel is deeply disturbing and should be rejected.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the fact that this cowardly terrorist attack is celebrated as a heroic act, that Israel is described as a ‘criminal apartheid regime’ and that Israel is called for to be wiped out,” said the office of Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (VP).

Image gallery: Hundreds of rockets from Gaza: Israel “in war mode”

(Photo: AHMAD GHARABLI (AFP)) Bild 1/18

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Payments on hold

Hours earlier, Schallenberg had announced that the government would “put all Austrian development cooperation payments” with the Palestinians “on ice for the time being” because of the escalation of violence. “The extent of the terror is horrendous. This is such a breach that we cannot return to the order of the day,” said Schallenberg, justifying the move. The EU and Germany are also cutting off the relevant aid.

The Austrian Development Cooperation (OEZA) has so far supported seven projects in Palestine with a total value of 18.8 million euros. The focus is on water and health care as well as empowering women, the Foreign Ministry said. It is currently being considered whether projects that are carried out with non-governmental aid organizations should be excluded from the measure.

Image gallery: Expressions of solidarity for Israel worldwide

UKRAINE-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-DIPLOMACY (Foto: SERGEI CHUZAVKOV (AFP)) Bild 1/9

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The aid organization CARE appealed to the federal government to examine the affected projects as quickly as possible so that it can “continue its humanitarian work and continue to support particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children and older people.” CARE Austria is currently implementing two projects in Palestine that are financially supported by the ADC.

The Palestinian ambassador in Vienna, Salah Abdel Shafi, was dismayed by Schallenberg’s announcements: “This step means collective punishment for the Palestinian population and supports Israel’s aggressive policy once morest the Palestinian civilian population,” criticized the diplomat. He described international development cooperation as “an important pillar of stability in this region.”

Yesterday’s Hamas terrorist attack sparked a rare solidarity in domestic politics. The leaders of all five parliamentary parties expressed “united solidarity with the Israeli people and the State of Israel” in a joint statement published on X (formerly Twitter).

“Side by side with Israel”

The brutal attack by the terrorist organization is condemned in the strongest possible terms. “Our democracy must be defensive and, given its history here, has a particular responsibility to stand side by side with Israel in the fight once morest terror,” it continued.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer (VP) also wants to use a meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan (see message below) in Ankara today to talk regarding the Turkish President’s options as a mediator in the Arab world.

The parliament in the colors of Israel

Yesterday, Parliament, the Israelite Community (IKG) and the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ) strongly condemned Hamas’ attack on Israel. Since yesterday evening, Parliament has been illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag for three days.

The Presidential Conference of the National Council and Federal Council, which includes the presidents of the National and Federal Councils as well as the club leaders of all parliamentary groups, expressed solidarity with Israel and called for the release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas.

Oskar Deutsch, IKG President in Austria, called for increased international pressure to free all hostages. Deutsch praised the “overwhelming” expressions of solidarity from Austria. Regarding the pro-Palestinian rallies, he said: “The few who are celebrating the sadists from the Gaza Strip and the hundreds of dead in Israel on the streets of Vienna are not Austria. They are vile and it is important to take action once morest terror fans using all the options that the rule of law offers.”

The Islamic religious community had previously called for an end to violence in the Middle East and the “glorification of violence” on Austria’s streets. The Hamas attacks should be “strongly rejected,” said IGGÖ President Ümit Vural.