(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 21 - EU divided on Israeli acting in Gaza and West Bank.
    Since Israel unleashed its devastating retaliatory offensive in Gaza, EU states have been deeply divided over the conflict.
    German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock rejected Borrell's proposal to suspend regular political dialogue with Israel. "We are always in favour of keeping channels of dialogue open. Of course, this also applies to Israel," she said. "Humanitarian aid is firmly anchored in international law," she said. Baerbock clearly stated that there should be no colonisation of Gaza and no expulsion from Gaza.
    France has spoken out against freezing EU dialogue with Israel but supports sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. "We are deeply attached to the security of Israel," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said at the Paris Peace Forum but "in the interest of Israel, of Israeli security, international law needs to be respected and justice needs to be reached". During his visit to the West Bank on November 7, Barrot had already threatened a new round of sanctions, and renewed France's commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
    Portugal's Secretary of State for European Affairs, Inês Domingos, said that Portugal was also opposed to Borrell's proposal, stressing that "this is not the ideal moment" to do it. Domingos said there were substantive grounds, since Lisbon considered the dialogue "to be positive", but it was also a question of timing, as there was currently a transition at the level of the EU executive". The approval process for the new European Commission is underway - the hearings of the new commissioners are ongoing and the new Commission is expected to start its work in December. "At the moment, we believe (…) that it is important to preserve the political dialogue," she said.
    Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said: "There is a new Israeli minister (Israel Katz, new Defense Minister), there will soon be a new (EU) high representative; we will wait for these two opportunities to start the dialogue, because there is much to discuss, including the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip." Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, stressed: "Boycotting dialogue with Israel makes no sense. If you want to work for peace, you can't avoid talking to Israel." Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Elena Shekerletova, stressed the need to de-escalate the conflict, to renew diplomatic efforts and prevent the escalation of hostilities in the region.
    "Bulgaria supports the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735 for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and the cessation of hostilities," Shekerletova said.
    Speaking for Slovenia, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said that the country is willing to consider the proposal by Borrell to suspend dialogue with Israel. Fajon believes focus must be put on Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which is about the respect for human rights. "This is what is key, what must be preserved. But there are also other matters, which is why suspension is worth considering." Fajon once again called for stricter sanctions against Israeli settlers perpetrating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The foreign minister also called for sanctions against Israeli political leaders who support this. She moreover called for an embargo on imports marked as stemming from occupied Palestinian territories.
    (The content is based on news by agencies participating in the enr, in this case AFP, BTA, dpa, EFE, STA, Lusa). (ANSA).