5 days ago
Israel's dynamic with Syria, Lebanon massively shifting, amb. to the EU tells 'Post'
"This was an intimate gathering aimed at discussing regional developments and exploring how the EU could help promote cooperation,' Regev explained.
The Ambassador to the European Union, Haim Regev, said that he could not recall the last time an Israeli foreign minister was in the same room as those of Lebanon and Syria.
'The foreign ministers of Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and Morocco sat in the same room. This is something that has happened before. However, this time, the Syrian and Lebanese ministers also joined in. The very fact that they were sitting there sends a message,' Regev told The Jerusalem Post.
He was referring to a recent meeting on Monday between the EU's foreign ministers and their Mediterranean counterparts, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.
'I'm not talking about the kind of forum you see at the UN, where nearly 200 countries sit together. This was an intimate gathering aimed at discussing regional developments and exploring how the EU could help promote cooperation,' Regev said.
When asked whether this meeting signaled a breakthrough in relations between Israel and these two countries, he replied: 'We shouldn't exaggerate, but it is certainly another sign of the shifting dynamics in the region, particularly in relation to Syria and Lebanon.'
Sa'ar's visit to the EU comes at a time when several countries in the European Union are promoting initiatives against Israel.
'There are countries like Spain and Ireland that are obsessively anti-Israel and have called for a review of EU-Israel cooperation, including the Association Agreement that serves as the foundation of that collaboration,' Regev told the Post.
'On the other hand, there are countries like Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Italy that stand by Israel and work to prevent any further deterioration in relations. For better or worse, the EU is made up of 27 countries, and decisions require consensus.'
Calls for reassessing EU-Israel relations emerged in response to Israeli military actions in Gaza, prompting the Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, to launch an inquiry titled: 'Is Israel Violating International Law in Gaza?'
Ensuring Israel's interests are protected
In recent weeks, Sa'ar, Regev, and other Foreign Ministry diplomats have been engaged in numerous meetings and discussions to ensure that Israel's interests are safeguarded.
Last week, Sa'ar and Kallas announced a new agreement under which the EU will play a more active role in addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
'There will be additional EU aid trucks entering Gaza, increased access to food distribution through bakeries and public kitchens, and other efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the enclave — all of which have been approved by Israel's cabinet,' Regev said.
'When you take such steps and demonstrate a willingness to improve the situation, it empowers Kallas to return to her colleagues and say, 'There's constructive dialogue, and we're seeing progress,'' Regev said.
'This helps to ease tensions. Some countries are already saying, 'If there's movement, there's no need for punitive measures against Israel.''
Solve the daily Crossword
