Western criticism of Israeli policy has intensified after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a two-state solution. The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, stated on Monday that the two-state solution is the only resolution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The Australian government has also affirmed its support for the two-state solution.
Baerbock, before attending a meeting with European Union foreign ministers, clarified that the two-state solution, which would allow for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, is the sole resolution to the prolonged conflict.
She said, “Those who say they don’t want to hear about such a solution have not presented any alternative,” and also called for an “immediate humanitarian halt” to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
Furthermore, the Australian government emphasized its support for a two-state solution “whereby Israelis and Palestinians can live in security and prosperity.”
The government urged Israel to fulfill its commitments and respect international law in its military operations in Gaza and rejected any reduction in the area of Gaza lands and any permanent Israeli presence there.
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign affairs official, stressed on Monday the importance of a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing that Israel cannot build peace “through military means alone.”
Borrell repeated the United Nations’ condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “unacceptable” refusal to establish a Palestinian state following the Gaza war.
Meanwhile, the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, expressed his hope on Monday that the European Union would impose sanctions on Israelis committing acts of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
On Monday, the EU’s twenty-seven foreign ministers were scheduled to meet first with their Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, followed by a separate meeting with their Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki, to discuss prospects for achieving lasting peace after Netanyahu’s rejection of the two-state solution calls.
The European Union is seeking to unify its stance on the Gaza conflict amid the rejection of an immediate ceasefire advocated by countries such as Spain and Ireland by powerful Israeli supporters like Germany.
