Press Releases Israel /Palestine: High Representative Josep Borrell holds a series of high-level contacts

Israel /Palestine: High Representative Josep Borrell holds a series of high-level contacts

High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) Josep Borrell had a series of high-level contacts in light of the situation in Israel and Palestine on 30 and 31 October. HR/VP Borrell discussed the ongoing escalation with key partners in the region, including the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud; of Jordan, Ayman Safadi, and of Egypt, Sameh Shukry, and the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha.

The HR/VP debriefed his interlocutors on the discussions at the recent European Council, recalling the urgency for humanitarian access and humanitarian pauses to allow for vital supplies to reach those in need and the need to avoid regional spill-over; the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians at all times, in line with International Humanitarian Law; and the European Council’s call on Hamas to immediately release all hostages without any preconditions.

The situation in the West Bank was also addressed. HR/VP Borrell expressed great concern over attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, which he firmly condemned.

With his Egyptian, Jordanian, and Saudi counterparts, the High Representative discussed the urgent need to restore the political horizon and relaunch the peace process, and to achieve a permanent sustainable settlement to this conflict, based on the two-state solution, in order to prevent such tragedies from recurring again.

In his exchange with the Secretary-General of the OIC, HR/VP Borrell insisted on the need to avoid further alienation and polarization, and to foster mutual respect and religious tolerance, condemning recent Quran’s burning episodes, as well as attacks against Jewish establishments.

In a phone conversation held yesterday with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), HR/VP expressed his concerns for the dire humanitarian situation and the lack of access to basic goods for hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza. The HR/VP underlined the need to increase international support for the civilian population, recalling the EU tripling of its humanitarian assistance to Gaza to €75 million, as well as its additional support of €10 million to UNRWA, aiming to enable the organisation to continue its invaluable work. The High Representative also expressed his condolences for the UNRWA staff killed while on duty, and paid tribute to all the UN staff risking their life in conflict areas.

The EU is and will remain actively engaged with all its partners in order to reach a just and lasting peace between Israel, Palestine and in the region.

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