A German spokesperson declined to comment. An Austrian spokesperson did not respond before publication.
Two more EU diplomats told POLITICO that relations between Berlin and Borrell deteriorated after a disastrous press conference in Moscow in 2021 when the EU’s foreign policy chief failed to respond to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s doubts that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had been poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent.
The Israeli operation has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian authorities in Gaza and international observers, since the attack in Israel by Hamas on October 7.
This week, Germany denied allegations made before the UN’s highest court in Nicaragua that it supported the genocide in Gaza by selling weapons to Israel. Germany is one of Israel’s largest arms suppliers, having approved 326.5 million euros worth of weapons in 2023.
Germany has not lifted its ban on funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) after Israel accused the agency, without providing evidence, of helping refugees Hamas fighters. This claim was rejected in March by Janez Lenarčič, the EU’s top humanitarian aid official, because Israeli officials provided no evidence.
Since the start of the war, Austria has taken a more pro-Israeli stance than Germany in EU decision-making discussions, for example on sanctions against Israeli settlers.
For months after the October attack, EU 27 leaders were divided on the issue of war. Austria and Germany, as well as Hungary and the Czech Republic, are among the most pro-Israeli voices. While Spain – where Borrell is from – Ireland and Belgium have been more critical of Israel in the European debate. The meeting of European leaders in March was the first time the EU agreed to call for a ceasefire as aid organizations increasingly warned of a humanitarian tragedy and famine in Gaza .
Politico
