The European Union rejects strengthening Israel's control over the West Bank
The European Union strongly condemned the recent unilateral steps taken by the Israeli government, which granted broader powers to Israeli authorities to consolidate their control over the occupied West Bank. In an official statement, the EU affirmed that these moves do not serve the peace process, but are counterproductive and constitute a clear violation of international law.
Joint European statement rejects changing the status quo
In a high-level diplomatic move, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, issued a joint statement with the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuić, and the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hajia Habib. The statement included a clear warning that "new steps would undermine ongoing international efforts to achieve stability and peace in the region," stressing the need to reverse any actions that could further inflame the conflict.
The position on the 1967 borders and UN resolutions
The European position rejecting these measures is based on the fundamental principles of the EU's foreign policy, which does not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, except those agreed upon by the parties through negotiations. The statement reiterated that the EU, in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions (such as Resolution 2334), considers Israeli settlements in the occupied territories illegal under international law, and that the imposition of Israeli sovereignty over them is legally invalid.
Risks of tampering with the Hebron Protocol
The statement specifically addressed the risks associated with decisions affecting the implementation of the 1997 Hebron Protocol between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel, which regulates presence in the city and its division into H1 and H2 zones. The Union warned that any change to the mechanisms of this protocol could jeopardize the delicate status quo at religious sites, potentially leading to renewed waves of violence and religious tension in the region.
Implications of expanding powers on the two-state solution
Observers believe that the transfer of powers from the Israeli military to civilian authorities in the West Bank, as approved by the Israeli Security Cabinet, represents a step toward the "de facto annexation" of the West Bank, effectively eliminating any chance of a two-state solution. This European warning comes at a time of unprecedented tensions in the region, making the preservation of existing legal frameworks and agreements an urgent necessity to prevent further descent into chaos.
