Union High Commissioner Joseph Burrell voiced concern over Netanyahu's statement in which he expressed his intention to continue working for annexation of the USSR
Following four days of consultations between EU member states on the EU's response to the application of Israeli sovereignty over territories in Judea and Samaria, EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Joseph Borel issued a statement today expressing deep concern about Israel's new government Palestinian Territories. " In his statement, Borel refers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the Knesset yesterday with the inauguration of his new government as well as the contents of the coalition agreement that underlies it.
EU foreign ministers discuss sanctions on Israel // Photo: Reuters
Burrell made it clear that the EU would not recognize any change in the 1967 borders, unless an agreement was reached between Israel and the Palestinians. "We are vigorously urging Israel to refrain from any unilateral decision that would annex Palestinian territories and contravene international law," the statement says, which does not include any threat of Union sanctions against Israel to the extent that sovereignty over territories in Judea and Samaria is applied. Some of the Union's foreign ministers have called for a more threatening statement to move Israel away from applying sovereignty. However, disagreements on the matter prevented the publication of a threatening message.
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Borel welcomes the establishment of the new government in Israel and wishes to cooperate with it "constructively and comprehensively" mainly on matters related to the fight against the corona epidemic, education, research and development. However, Borel also emphasized the Union's desire to contribute to promoting the peace process and negotiations that would lead to a final settlement. However, Borel says a two-state solution and Jerusalem as a joint capital for the two countries is the only way to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East.
At the top of the European Union, the announcement of Borel's announcement was delayed to see what the statements made by the new government official in Jerusalem in the context of applying sovereignty. Despite the relatively moderate language of the announcement, senior officials of the European Commission have made it clear that if Israel applies sovereignty over territories in Judea and Samaria unilaterally, this will severely hamper Israeli relations with the Union and "begin another period in relations between the two sides".