Afrigather BRUSSELS (AP) — Relations between the European Union and Israel took a nosedive on the eve of the diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state by EU members Ireland and Spain, with Madrid suggesting sanctions ought to be thought of towards Israel for its continued assaults within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah.
Israeli Overseas Minister Israel Katz instructed Spain that its consulate in Jerusalem is not going to be allowed to assist Palestinians.
On the identical time, the EU’s overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell, a Spaniard, threw his full weight to assist the Worldwide Felony Courtroom, whose prosecutor is searching for an arrest warrant towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, together with the leaders of Hamas.
“The prosecutor of the courtroom has been strongly intimidated and accused of antisemitism – as all the time when anyone, anybody does one thing that Netanyahu’s authorities doesn’t like,” Borrell mentioned. “The phrase antisemitic, it’s too heavy. It’s too necessary.”
Indignant phrases abounded Monday, with Katz accusing Spain of “rewarding terror” by recognizing a Palestinian state, and saying that “the times of the Inquisition are over.” He referred to the notorious Spanish establishment began within the fifteenth century to take care of Roman Catholic orthodoxy that compelled Jews and Muslims to flee, convert to Catholicism or, in some situations, face demise.
“Nobody will drive us to transform our faith or threaten our existence — those that hurt us, we are going to hurt in return,” mentioned Katz.
Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Although the EU and its member nations have been steadfast in condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault through which militants stormed throughout the Gaza border into Israel, killing 1,200 individuals and taking some 250 hostage, the bloc has been equally vital of Israel’s ensuing offensive that has killed greater than 35,000 Palestinians, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry.
The newest assaults have centered on Rafah, the place Palestinian well being staff mentioned Israeli airstrikes killed a minimum of 35 people Sunday, hit tents for displaced individuals and left “quite a few” others trapped in flaming particles.
Italian Protection Minister Guido Crosetto mentioned that such strikes could have long-standing repercussions. “Israel with this selection is spreading hatred, rooting hatred that may contain their youngsters and grandchildren. I might have most popular one other choice,″ he instructed SKY TG24.
The strikes got here after the U.N.’s top court, the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice, on Friday demanded that Israel instantly halt its offensive on Rafah, even when it stopped wanting ordering a cease-fire for the Gaza enclave.
“Israel has to cease its offensive in Rafah,” Spanish Overseas Minister José Manuel Albares mentioned.
Spain, Eire and non-EU member Norway plan to make official their recognition of a Palestinian state on Tuesday. Their joint announcement final week triggered an indignant response from Israeli authorities, which summoned the international locations’ ambassadors in Tel Aviv to the Israeli Overseas Ministry, the place they had been filmed whereas being proven movies of the Oct. 7 Hamas assault and kidnapping.
Albares criticized the remedy of the ambassadors. “We reject one thing that isn’t inside diplomatic courtesy and the customs of the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations,” he mentioned.
“However on the identical time we now have additionally agreed that we’re not going to fall into any provocation that distances us from our objective,” he added. “Our purpose is to acknowledge the state of Palestine tomorrow, make all doable efforts to realize a everlasting cease-fire as quickly as doable and in addition, in the long run, to realize that definitive peace.”
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Colleen Barry contributed from Milan.
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