EU calls for immediate end to fighting

The European Union calls for an immediate end to the “intolerable violence” in Gaza, condemns rocket fire on Israel and reiterates the state’s right to defend itself – as long as its response maintains “proportionality.”

“Gaza has been suffering from intolerable violence for more than three weeks already. We deplore the terrible loss of lives, including innocent women and children. Many have been injured, property and livelihoods have been destroyed. This needs to stop immediately,” reads a joint statement issued by the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.

At the same time, the EU strongly condemns continued rocket fire over Israel, the statement continues. “It constitutes an unacceptable threat to its citizens. Israel has the right to live in peace in its recognized borders. Legitimate defense needs to maintain proportionality. We have all seen these cycles in the past and we know that there are limits regarding what military operations can achieve…The bloodshed needs to stop.”

The EU is ready to “support actively negotiations, confidence building measures, reconstruction and reconciliation efforts,” the statement reads. “No more lives should be wasted. Palestinian and Israeli leaders need to exercise courage by putting an end to this senseless violence. They also need to exercise courage and wisdom to move beyond these cycles of violence and advance towards arrangements that will ensure peaceful and dignified coexistence, based on mutual respect.”

— Raphael Ahren