Spain disagrees with the European Commission’s decision to suspend EU cooperation aid for Palestine in retaliation for an attack on Israel by the Islamist group Hamas. Surprisingly announced measure by the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhely The account on X (formerly Twitter) caused substantial and formal disturbance to the Spanish Government.
“I spoke to Commissioner Varhely and told him that I completely disagree with this decision. This has the opposite effect, “We must separate the Hamas terrorist group from the Palestinian National Authority,” Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told Prensa Ibérica’s El Periódico de España by phone. “Cooperative assistance must continue to move towards NGOs and NGOs and United Nations mechanisms”.
In addition to the projects carried out in Palestine’s East Jerusalem, the EU finances salaries, retirement and health expenses in the Palestinian territories illegally occupied by Israel with approximately 700 million euros annually. It also contributes to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRWA), which is responsible for maintaining schools, hospitals and basic services in the camps where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians deported by the Israeli Army have lived for decades.
head of Spanish diplomacy He also criticizes the forms Which Commissioner Varhely moves forward with. “We don’t need to learn via tweet about a decision that the Council also has to make. He confirmed to me that he would join the Council. I could have proposed it there, too.”
Exactly this Tuesday, Josep Borrell called the Foreign Affairs Council. Spain requested that the issue of suspending aid be put on the agenda. According to Albares, he has received support for his position from many European colleagues.
Instant blocking of funds
Oliver Varhelyi confirmed that the bloc had frozen “all planned payments immediately” and said: Reviews all ongoing projects. Thus, it is following in Austria’s footsteps, while Germany has stated that it is reviewing its cooperation commitments.
This aid is delivered to authorities in Ramallah (the capital of the West Bank and seat of the Palestinian National Authority) or to the United Nations and NGOs; It is never sent to Hamas, the Islamist group that rules the isolated Gaza Strip.
“All new budget proposals, including the 2023 budget proposal, postponed until further notice Regarding the aid amounting to almost 700 million euros, we will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the entire portfolio,” the Hungarian commissioner said.
The neighborhood headman insisted “The magnitude of terror and brutality” There was an attack on Israel represents a “turning point” Therefore, Brussels “cannot continue with things as they are.”
Advert “All payments suspended” regarding development aid to Palestine Within the framework of the evaluation of the assistance provided by the European Union to the Palestinian authorities, following the attack launched this Saturday by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
The commissioner defended the speech “The foundations of peace, tolerance and coexistenceAfter lamenting that “incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terrorism has poisoned the minds of many people” in the Middle East, he repeated in the wake of the Islamist attack: “We need to act, and we need it now.” The group that caused the deaths of more than 700 Israelis, most of them civilians.
Last year, Varhelyi took part in a controversy by conditioning aid funds totaling more than 200 million to the Palestinian Authority corresponding to 2021. They will reform educationFollowing debates over whether school textbooks promote hatred and violence against Israel. This conflict led to a general strike by teachers in the occupied territories, which received the support of international NGO officials in the region.
European Commission President Urusula von der Leyen set the tone yesterday with a message on the same X network, in which she defended the common phrase “Israel’s right to defend itself” but added the phrase “today and in the coming days.” It has been criticized by some for whether it could be understood as a blank check for Israeli retaliation.
Israel has been shelling the narrow Gaza Strip, where at least 500 Palestinians have been killed since Saturday. The Hebrew Army is responding to Hamas’ unprecedented operation into Israeli territory, killing at least 800 Israelis and kidnapping more than a hundred others.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has vowed to change Gaza forever and end Hamas, no matter the cost. For now, they have cut off electricity and water and blocked access to food and fuel in the Strip, where more than two million people live.