Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský opposed the proposal by the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, to suspend political dialogue with Israel on human rights violations in Gaza, which EU foreign ministers are to discuss in Brussels on Monday.

Lipavský argues that the suspension of political dialogue with Israel would have no result, and also questions Borrell, the current high representative for foreign policy, consistency in this matter.

“It seems to me that Josep Borrell doesn’t know what he wants,” said Lipavský Czech News Agency Friday.

He also highlighted Borrell’s changing position, noting that during the Czech EU presidency in the second half of 2022, Borrell initially blocked efforts to convene an Association Council with Israel, so that later to insist on it.

“Now he proposes to suspend the dialogue. This no longer makes sense,” Lipavský said, adding: “I don’t think that suspending the political dialogue will lead to anything.”

The EU-Israel Association Agreement, signed in 2000, emphasizes human rights and democratic principles as the basis of their relationship. Like Euractiv reportedBorrell’s proposal seeks to assess Israel’s compliance with these principles.

The proposal needs unanimous support from all 27 EU member states to pass, making its approval unlikely. Along with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria have also expressed strong support for Israel.

The proposal to suspend dialogue with Israel could be Borrell’s last initiative as head of EU diplomacy. He is to be replaced in the coming weeks by the former Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas.

When asked by Czech News AgencyLipavský was reluctant to say too much about the approach he expected Kallas to take on the issue.

“Let’s give him space to present his own approach to this agenda,” he said.

“It is not a simple agenda. It is one of the biggest divisive issues in the EU at the moment,” added the Czech diplomatic chief.

(Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)