European foreign ministers refuse to break dialogue with Israel

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The European Union will not suspend dialogue with Israel, no agreement having been reached during a Council of Foreign Ministers held this Monday in Brussels.

The proposal came from Josep Borrell, the European Union’s outgoing foreign policy chief, who cited Israel’s alleged violations of human rights and international law in the Gaza Strip.

Josep Borrell’s proposal, however, not obtained the necessary unanimity among Member States for any suspension of an EU political dialogue with another State.

The setback was predictable, according to Constantinos Kombos, the Cypriot foreign minister, who spoke to Euronews.

“It is questionable whether this was the right time for such a debate, given that the lack of unanimity among ministers was quite predictable and this reinforces the perception of divisions within the EU”he declares.

“When there are indications that such a proposal will not have a positive outcome, we must take into account the impact this will have on other key stakeholders”.

“Leave a positive legacy”

Josep Borrell will be replaced on December 1 by former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and the European Parliament approves the new European Commission on time.

According to Maria Luisa Frantappie, expert at the International Business Institute, the outgoing head of European diplomacy wanted to leave a mark at the end of his mandate.

“I think this initiative is the result of several months of political frustrations that Josep Borrell and some member states felt in the face of an EU unable to express a firm position on this conflict”she explains to Euronews.

“So I think, to a certain extent, Josep Borrell wanted to leave a positive legacy as head of EU diplomacy”.

During the Council on Monday, several European ministers declared that the future of negotiations in the Middle East will greatly depend on the new US administrationwho will take office next January.