“I hope that we can bring clarity” to the EU position, confides the President of the European Parliament

It took five hours of discussions between the Twenty-Seven, Thursday October 26, to agree on a common message. EU countries are seeking a balance between support for Israel and solidarity with civilians in Gaza, without calling for a complete stop to bombing. “I hope that we can bring clarity to the European Union’s position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas”, confided Tuesday on France Inter the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. She “understand” those who denounce a form of “cacophony” in the European response.

Ursula Ven der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, was particularly criticized during her trip to Israel on October 13. She told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Europe stood “alongside Israel”who has “the right to defend oneself” It front of “atrocities committed by Hamas”.

“We cannot show a Europe with members who say different things”explains the President of the European Parliament. “They say that Hamas is a terrorist association, that it does not represent the Palestinian people, that we need a two-state solution, all this must be repeated because it is the position of the European Union”she insists.

The European Parliament in favor of a humanitarian pause

“How Israel responds to Hamas attacks will matter”, concedes Roberta Metsola. She also recalls that the European Parliament “sentenced” the violence of certain Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Roberta Metsola highlights the importance “to mitigate the humanitarian consequences” of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, and “protect civilians”. She reiterates the European Parliament’s call for a “humanitarian break”.