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Brussels (ANSA) – The crisis in the Middle East dominates the Luxembourg Foreign Affairs Council, amid divisions and difficult compromises to bring the positions of the 27 closer. The EU has found the words to condemn with one voice the attacks by Israel on the Unifil contingent – « it took us too long for something obvious, » regrets the high representative Josep Borrell – but on the rest it stumbles. On the issue of a possible arms embargo, aired by Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sanchez.
« One could mention other member states that find themselves in the opposite situation and are calling for greater arms supply to Israel, » notes Borrell. The truth is that it is a « national competence » and to change things it would require a UN Security Council resolution or a unanimous decision from the 27. The position of Italy is explained by the minister Antonio Tajani, in Berlin for the Balkan summit.
« Since October 7 last year – he said – we have blocked all contracts involving the sale of arms to Israel, as required by law; if they then use weapons sold in the past, I don’t know. » Regarding Unifil, the EU has defined the recent attacks as « serious violations of international law » and has asked for « immediate explanations » from Tel Aviv.
The foreign ministers of Italy, France, Germany, and Great Britain today reiterated the « deep concern » in a joint statement and demanded that the attacks « cease immediately » (October 14).
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