The 27 European Union (EU) foreign ministers met with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Wednesday evening in Brussels to discuss ways of maintaining a ceasefire in Gaza, assessing humanitarian aid and finding ways for a more stable security situation in the Middle East.
Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, who also heads the EU council of ministers, convened the event as a follow-up to Sunday’s Sharm El Sheikh summit, which was attended by several EU leaders, who met in Israel after the summit.
"The objective of both extraordinary meetings with partners from the Middle East in Brussels is particularly to find the most effective way to help the citizens of Gaza in their difficult humanitarian situation and clarify role and strategy of the EU in searching for a more stable security situation in the Middle East," a statement from the Czech presidency said.
"We are working with the international community and international organizations in order to help in answering the needs in the Gaza Strip," Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni stated, adding that Israel is "willing to cooperate on this as far as needed."
The Foreign Affairs Minister’s statements of cooperation with the European Community pleased EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, who also attended the conference. Nonetheless, Livni insisted that any understanding with the European Community regarding a "durable and sustainable ceasefire also means a full cessation of the smuggling of weapons from Iran to Hamas" in Gaza.
"We discussed with the EU Foreign Ministers ways to help the Egyptians stop the smuggling of weapons to Gaza," Livni stated, adding, "One of the goals of our military operation was precisely to stop such a smuggling."
Will the EU commit to contribute forces and technological means to prevent smuggling into Gaza? According to an EU official, it is still too early for any commitment. However, the EU official stated that the EU is prepared to send monitors back to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza as long as the ceasefire stays in place.
The European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafiah (EUBAM Rafah) observed the Rafiah Border Crossing on the Gaza-Egyptian border from 2005 until June 2007. The mission consists of about 70 personnel including a special security team. EUBAM left the Rafiah crossing after the Hamas terrorist organization took control of Gaza almost two years ago, and the crossing has been closed since then.
Regarding Gilad Shalit: Silence is Golden
Livni also mentioned during the Brussels press conference about the release of captured soldier Gilad Shalit. "This is a painful issue for every Israeli," the Foreign Affairs Minister said, calling on Hamas "to give an answer. The sooner, the better." Nevertheless, the Israeli leader expressed her concern that too much talk in public is not a good thing.
"There is a cruel terrorist organization that is playing on the sentiments of the Israeli public and it is not good to speak about Gilad Shalit in a public setting," Livni stated.