Last Friday, the Prime Minister defended his Spanish counterpart’s proposal to organize a peace conference in the Middle East and did not consider it necessary to reach unanimity of positions on this issue among the 27.
“We think it is good and that is why it is included in the conclusions of the Prime Minister’s proposal [Pedro] Sánchez to promote the holding of a peace conference within six months,” said António Costa during a press conference at the end of a two-day European Council meeting in Brussels.
The 27 agreed on a joint position on Thursday to call for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. However, some member states wanted to go further and, for example, called for a ceasefire between the Israeli army and the Islamist movement Hamas.
“We all come from very different historical positions regarding Israel. This largely determines the way different countries position themselves in this contextO. There were countries that not only defended the ceasefire, but also understood that the siege existed [a Gaza]Cutting off electricity and water supplies is a violation of international law. Others understand that Israel’s right to defend itself should not be determined by any ‘but’,” said António Costa.
Despite the differences, the Prime Minister advocated that “a Europe of 27 is a pluralistic Europe”, therefore he emphasizes “everyone’s efforts” so that a common position of the community bloc emerges.
Source: DN
