Spain does not agree with the European Commission’s decision to suspend EU cooperation aid to Palestine in retaliation for the attack by the Islamist group Hamas on Israel. The measure, announced by surprise by the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhely on his X account (formerly Twitter), has caused discomfort in the Spanish Government, in substance and in form.
“I have spoken to Commissioner Varhely and told him that I completely disagree with this decision. It is counterproductive, “We must separate a Hamas terrorist group from the Palestinian National Authority,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, by telephone to El Periódico de España, from Prensa Ibérica. “Aid for cooperation must continue to move towards the NGOs and United Nations mechanisms”.
The EU finances spending on salaries, pensions and health in the Palestinian territories illegally occupied by Israel with nearly 700 million euros annually, in addition to carrying out projects in Palestinian East Jerusalem. 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 have been living for decades after their expulsion by the Israeli Army.
The head of Spanish diplomacy He also criticizes the forms with which Commissioner Varhely has proceeded. “It is not via tweet that we have to find out about a decision that the Council also has to make. He has confirmed to me that he is going to attend to the Council. I could have proposed it there.”
Precisely this Tuesday, Josep Borrell has called a Foreign Affairs Council. Spain has asked that the issue of suspension of aid be included on the agenda. According to Albares, he has obtained support for his position from many European colleagues.
Immediate blocking of funds
Oliver Varhelyi, has confirmed that the bloc freezes “immediately all planned payments” and that is reviewing all ongoing projects. It thus follows in Austria’s footsteps, while Germany has reported that it is reviewing its cooperation commitments.
This aid is delivered to the authorities in Ramallah (capital of the West Bank and headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority) or to the United Nations and NGOs, never to the Islamist group Hamas, which governs the isolated Gaza Strip.
The scale of terror and brutality against #Israel and its people is a turning point.
There can be no business as usual.
As the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, worth a total of EUR 691m
⤵️— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) October 9, 2023
“All new budget proposals, including the 2023 one, postponed until further notice and we will do an exhaustive evaluation of the entire portfolio,” said the Hungarian commissioner, regarding aid that has amounted to almost 700 million euros.
The head of Neighborhood has insisted that the “magnitude of terror and brutality” of the attack launched against Israel represents a “turning point” Therefore, Brussels “cannot continue with things as they have been.”
Ad “suspends all payments” related to development aid to Palestine after the attack launched this Saturday by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), within the framework of the evaluation of the aid provided by the European Union to the Palestinian authorities.
The commissioner has defended addressing “the foundations of peace, tolerance and coexistence” in the Middle East, after lamenting that “incitement to hatred, violence and the glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many people.” “We need action and we need it now,” he reiterated, after the offensive by the Islamist group that has left more than 700 Israelis dead, most of them civilians.
Varhelyi starred in a controversy last year by conditioning the assistance funds to the Palestinian Authority corresponding to 2021, in total more than 200 million to which the authorities they will carry out an educational reform, following controversy over whether textbooks in schools promote hatred and violence toward Israel. This conflict led to a general strike by teachers in the occupied territories, which received support from international NGO officials in the area.
The president of the European Commission, Urusula von der Leyen, already set the tone yesterday with a message on the same X network in which she defended “Israel’s right to defend itself”, a common phrase, but added “today and in the days coming”, which has been criticized by some for whether it can be understood as a blank check for Israeli retaliation.
Today, Hamas terrorists have struck at the heart of Israel by capturing and killing innocent women and children.
Israel has the right to defend itself – today and in the days to come.
The European Union stands with Israel. pic.twitter.com/qTngixfu78
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 7, 2023
Related news
Israel has been bombing the narrow Gaza Strip since Saturday, where at least 500 Palestinians have already died. The Hebrew Army responds to the murder of at least 800 Israelis and the kidnapping of more than a hundred, in an unprecedented Hamas operation in Israeli territory.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have vowed to change Gaza forever and end Hamas, whatever the cost. For now, they have cut off electricity and water in the Strip, where more than two million people live, and have blocked access to food and fuel.