EU Middle East envoy: Bloc still committed to two-state solution
Sven Koopmans says organization can leverage close connections with Israel and Palestinian Authority to push for diplomatic solution, despite internal disagreements on the matter
The European Union’s Middle East peace envoy continues to believe a two-state solution is achievable despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stubborn opposition to a Palestinian state.
Sven Koopmans, in an interview with AFP, said with the Gaza war ongoing and Israel needing international support, Netanyahu’s government cannot indefinitely disregard European views on resolving the conflict.
Netanyahu and some ministers in his right-wing government staunchly oppose the creation of a Palestinian state, which some argue has become even more urgent since Hamas’s October 7 attacks — which saw terrorists kill some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnap 251 — sparked the devastating war.
“I think that recently he was very explicit about rejecting the two-state solution,” Koopmans said. “Now, that means that he has a different point of view from much of the rest of the world.”
The Dutch diplomat said one side’s rejection of “the outcome that we believe is necessary” does not mean efforts to seek a solution should cease.
Last month, the EU invited Israel to discuss Gaza and human rights.
Israel agreed to a meeting after July 1, when Hungary, which supports Netanyahu’s government, assumed the EU presidency.
“It is important that we have that discussion,” Koopmans said. “I am sure that in such a meeting, there will be very substantive discussions about what we expect from our partner Israel. And that relates to things that we do not see at present.”
‘Relevant actor’
Koopmans said it was “completely unacceptable” for there to be thousands of aid trucks waiting at the Gaza border. Israel says it is allowing aid into the enclave, but incompetence by aid workers on the ground and theft by the terror group Hamas are preventing the aid from adequately reaching civilians.
The envoy also raised concerns about settler violence in the West Bank, saying some attacks amounted to “genuine terrorism.”
Named special representative for the peace process in 2021, Koopmans said the EU is one of the most energetic institutions pushing for a two-state solution.
Koopmans said his work was guided by the EU’s 1980 declaration recognizing the “right to existence and to security” for Israel and “the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
The declaration called Israeli settlements in the West Bank “a serious obstacle to the peace process.”
The European bloc had only nine members then, and Koopmans acknowledged divisions between the 27 existing members on the Middle East strife.
Nevertheless, he insisted the bloc “should not make ourselves smaller than we are.”
He highlighted that the 27 countries, with a combined population of 450 million, were Israel’s largest trading partner and the top aid donor to the Palestinians.
“We are the biggest political neighbor to both of them. Of course, we are not the biggest security provider, let’s be honest. But we are a big and relevant actor.”
EU nuances
Koopmans listed his top priorities as ending the suffering in Gaza, preventing a regional war between Israel and the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, and reviving the peace process to establish “a free state of Palestine living alongside a safe and secure Israel.”
The envoy acknowledged the “different nuances” of EU members regarding the Middle East.
Spain and Ireland joined non-EU member Norway in recognizing a Palestinian state this year.
Hungary and the Czech Republic have on the other hand sought to block EU sanctions against settlers in the West Bank.
The recognitions of a Palestinian state infuriated Israel, yet Koopmans said the move could “contribute” to a solution to the conflict. Israel says that the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state following October 7 serves as a reward for the crimes committed by terrorist groups like Hamas. The Knesset overwhelmingly reaffirmed that sentiment on Wednesday, passing a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The European Union is also a major backer of the Palestinian Authority, which many countries say Israel seeks to undermine.
“We want to see the PA thrive. We want it to have an ability to govern in an effective and legitimate manner,” Koopmans said.
“We want to strengthen the PA also so that it can again take over in Gaza when the time is there.”
The European Union met with foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in May and Koopmans said there were “positive reactions” to its proposals.
