- Nineteen prisoners use cutlery to break out of cells at Winchester prison
- France wants progress in Ukraine before Russia returns to G7
- Italy president begins talks to seek way out of government crisis
- Italian PM expected to resign as political chaos deepens
- Russia says US cruise missile test ‘regrettable’
- Kremlin - No date set for Normandy talks on Ukraine despite Macron meeting
- Egypt court hands out 6 death sentences on terror charges
- Putin says Russian nuclear explosion poses no threat
- Russian panel eyes alleged foreign interference in protests
- Gran Canaria wildfire triggers evacuation of thousands of people
- PM Johnson calls on Germany and France to compromise on Brexit
- Sudan's ex-president Bashir arrives at corruption trial
Monday, 15 June_Luxembourg has decried Israel’s controversial plan to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank as “stealing”, stressing that such a move would make the EU's recognition of the state of Palestine "inevitable".
Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told German weekly Der Spiegel that the United Nations Security Council has taken a clear position, and declared Israeli settlements illegal in several resolutions, stressing that Israel’s annexation plan amounts to “stealing”.
“In the Middle East, which is strongly shaped by religion, one could also say that an annexation violates the seventh of the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not steal. An annexation of parts of the West Bank would be just that: stealing.”
Asselborn called for a tougher EU stance against Israel’s annexation plan, saying, "To write reproachful letters would be a humiliation for the EU and would significantly weaken its credibility."
He suggested economic sanctions or the recognition of Palestine as a state in case Israel moves forward with its plan.
"The recognition of Palestine; this debate would gain a whole new dynamic. I would even consider it inevitable," Asselborn said, noting that such a decision would not require a unanimous decision by all 27 member states.
Nine EU member states, including Sweden, Hungary, and Poland, have already recognized the state of Palestine.
"If others were to follow, it would likely achieve much more than economic sanctions," Asselborn said.
Your Comment