AFPThe officials wrote the letter to Commission President Von der Leyen
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 13:03
Kysia Hekster
European Union correspondent
Kysia Hekster
European Union correspondent
Hundreds of European Union officials accuse the EU of applying double standards regarding the war between Israel and Gaza. In a letter to the chairman of the European Commission that is in the hands of the NOS, they draw a comparison with the Ukraine war. The Union has unequivocally condemned Russia since the start of the war, while its policy towards Israel is far too cautious, they write.
With current policies, the EU risks “losing its credibility”, EU officials said. The UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories and human rights organization Human Rights Watch are also critical. Other experts point out that comparing the two wars and the parties participating in them is not useful.
European officials wrote to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that they were “saddened” by the “clear evidence of double standards, where Russia’s blockade (water and fuel) against the Ukrainian people is considered an act of terror, while the same act by Israel against the people of Gaza are being completely ignored.” The letter was sent according to the website Euractive signed by more than 850 officials. The European Commission employs approximately 30,000 civil servants.
A letter from officials to the government was also published in the Netherlands on Friday. The letters are striking because it is unusual for civil servants to express their opinions publicly from their position.
A senior EU diplomat points out that the wars cannot be compared because Russia is “waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and Israel has been attacked by terrorists. We have great concerns about what is happening in Gaza, and we express that very explicit”.
The diplomat believes that the criticism that the EU response in the case of Israel is different from that with regard to Russia should be “listened carefully”, but he emphatically says that he believes “not every accusation is justified”.
‘Comparing apples to oranges’
Peter Malcontent, Middle East expert from Utrecht University, also believes that comparing the statements of EU representatives about wars in Ukraine and Israel is not useful. “You can expect European officials with knowledge of international politics in particular not to come up with simplified comparisons.”
Malcontent calls it “comparing apples and oranges” because the context is so different. “In Ukraine you can clearly say: It is Russia that invaded, which goes against all agreements. You have to condemn Russia for that. In Israel and Gaza it is much more complex.”
Otherwise, people might think that European institutions consider the protection of Palestinian children, women and men less important than that of Ukrainians.
Francesca Albanese, UN Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure that began a year ago war crimes. The UN Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, asks Von der Leyen on X to speak out in the same way about Israel, which denies residents of the Gaza Strip electricity, water and food. “Otherwise, people might think that European institutions consider the protection of Palestinian children, women and men less important than that of Ukrainians,” Albanese said.
Human Rights Watch also draws a comparison between the war in Ukraine and that between Israel and Hamas. The human rights organization writes on its website that international humanitarian law requires the protection of all civilians and that “violation of the laws by one party does not justify violations by another.” During the war in Ukraine, European governments upheld these principles, says a commentary on the website, and condemned violations by Russia. But what Israel did remained largely silent, according to Human Rights Watch.
Tomorrow, European Foreign Ministers, including Hanke Bruins Slot, will meet in Luxembourg to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas. According to a senior EU diplomat, the criticism will probably be addressed there.
2023-10-22 11:03:54
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