After the USA, Germany and the EU are now increasing the pressure on opponents of a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. “All those who don’t want to know anything about it have not yet come up with any other alternative,” criticized Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday at an EU meeting in Brussels. According to a two-state solution, an independent Palestinian state should exist peacefully alongside Israel.
It is now crucial to make it clear that Israel can only live in security if the Palestinians can also live in security and dignity. At the same time, Palestinians can only live in dignity, security and freedom if Israel lives in security.
A number of other ministers also made similar statements and particularly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He made it clear again at the weekend that he rejects a two-state solution after the end of the Gaza war. “I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over the entire area west of the Jordan – and that is contradictory to a Palestinian state,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Séjourné: Netanyahu’s statements are disturbing
French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné described Netanyahu’s comments in Brussels as worrying. What is needed is a state for the Palestinians and not endless occupation, he demanded. Irishman Micheál Martin called Netanyahu’s statements “unacceptable.” Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel said: “If the Israelis believe that the two-state solution is not a solution, then they are quite isolated.”
Jordanian Foreign Minister Aiman Safadi criticized the Israeli government for defying the entire international community by saying no. He was invited to the talks in Brussels, as were his colleagues from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. There were also separate exchanges with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Riad Malki.
However, it is questionable whether the increasing pressure on Israel can have an effect. According to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Borrell was not willing to compromise on the issue in the discussions. Instead, according to the Spaniard, Katz presented plans for an artificial island off the coast of the Gaza Strip and a rail connection with India. According to earlier information from Katz, the island plans include building a port and possibly even an airport there. Flows of goods and travelers could be controlled efficiently.
A majority of Israelis now reject a two-state solution. Many fear that this could result in rockets raining down on Israeli locations from the West Bank. In addition, some argue that an independent state after the unprecedented massacre of October 7th would be a reward. The Islamist Hamas is also against a two-state solution. It seeks the destruction of Israel.
US presidential election causes concern
EU diplomats fear that Netanyahu is betting on Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election in the fall. The Republican strongly supported Netanyahu in his first term in office and announced, among other things, that the USA would no longer categorically view Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank as violating international law. Trump’s successor Biden has corrected this course again. The Democrat instead calls on Israel to be open to a two-state solution.
Several participants in the ministerial meeting also viewed a proposal by EU foreign policy chief Borrell for a peace conference initiative as unpromising, which could, in the first step, include top-level talks without the Palestinians and Israelis. “It is of no value that we organize peace conferences again if no one is there and or everyone and then Israel has the feeling that they are on trial,” said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Bettel, for example.
According to EU diplomats, a more cautious approach could first be to push for further ceasefires in the current Gaza war, with which Israel is currently reacting to the worst massacre in its history. On the Israeli side, 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground offensive. Since then, more than 25,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. According to the UN, around 70 percent of them are women and minors.
Agreement on EU military intervention
Only in passing did the meeting in Brussels discuss the ongoing preparations for the planned EU military operation to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea. However, Borrell was able to confirm at the final press conference that evening that there is now a political agreement in principle on the start of the operation. Ideally, it should start next month and end the attacks by militant Islamist Houthis. They want to force an end to the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip by shelling ships.
According to current plans, the operation will involve sending European warships to the region to protect cargo ships. There are currently no plans to take part in the US attacks against Houthi positions in Yemen. According to government sources, Germany wants to take part in the military operation with the frigate “Hessen” – provided that the Bundestag issues a corresponding mandate after the EU plans have been completed. The ship is equipped, among other things, with anti-aircraft missiles.
