2024-01-22 04:01:28
The foreign ministers of the EU states want to discuss with colleagues from the Middle East on Monday about possible initiatives for a lasting settlement of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Abul Gheit, as well as the foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan are expected to attend the talks in Brussels. The EU chief diplomats want to exchange ideas separately with their colleagues from Israel and Palestine.
According to a top diplomat in the EU’s foreign service, a central topic of the talks will be the possible establishment of an independent Palestinian state with simultaneous security guarantees for Israel. A political perspective for the Palestinian people could also influence the current war between the Islamist Hamas and Israel, he said ahead of the meeting. The goal must be for Israel to have completely normal relations with the Arab countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his rejection of a two-state solution on Sunday and emphasized that Israel claims military control over the entire West Bank.
In addition to the Middle East conflict, the second important topic at the EU meeting will be the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The ministers want to hear from their Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba about the current situation. In addition, possible long-term security commitments from the EU and further military support will be discussed. At least on the sidelines of the meeting, current plans for an EU military operation to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea will also be discussed. It should be decided by February at the latest and then started immediately. The Yemeni Houthi militia supports the allied terrorist organization Hamas with attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) will take part in the EU consultations for Austria.
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