Attacks by the Israeli army on Syria and Lebanon may lead to new conflicts, the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Kaya Callas warned today in Jerusalem.
“Military action should be proportionate,” Kalas said at a press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sara.
Callas said that the EU believes that the attacks are not necessary since Syria is not attacking Israel, and it is dangerous that they are encouraging radicalization against Israel.
Kalas has been visiting Israel since yesterday, and today, after meetings in Jerusalem, she will go to the occupied West Bank to talk with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel has carried out dozens of attacks on military facilities there, claiming it wants to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of the new regime, which Israel considers “extremist”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel calls the interim president of Syria Ahmad al-Shareh “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
The Israeli army has deployed in the demilitarized zone on the Syrian Golan Heights outside the part that Israel occupied in 1967 and annexed in 1981.
The new Syrian authorities condemn the aggression as part of Israel’s campaign against the Syrian people and the country’s stability.
Callas said that the EU is worried about “the same things as Israel” and assessed that the new leaders of Syria say good things, but she wonders if they actually do it.
Despite the truce with Lebanese Hezbollah on November 27, Israel frequently attacks Lebanon and would like to have complete freedom of military action there. The Israeli military is targeting the infrastructure of members of the Iranian-backed Islamist movement.
Regarding Gaza, where Israel broke the truce on March 18, Kaja Kalas said that it is necessary to re-establish it and ensure the release of all hostages and continue the delivery of humanitarian aid, and that the goal should be a permanent ceasefire.
She said the EU could help by redeploying a monitoring mission to the Rafah crossing, with Egypt, or with more humanitarian aid.
Callas, who was in Egypt on Sunday, reminded that the EU supports the Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, but said that it is necessary to work on the sharing of costs and the future government in that Palestinian territory.
Callas reiterated that Europeans do not see any role for the now ruling Hamas movement in the future government in Gaza.
Relations with Israel have deeply divided the EU since the start of the Gaza war: some states emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself, while others insist on the Palestinians’ right to have a state.