EU to propose sanctions on West Bank extremist settlers
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her harshest criticism of Israel to date, saying she would propose sanctions on extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and the suspension of the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Ms von der Leyen was launching her eagerly awaited State of the Union speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
She said: "What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world. People killed while begging for food, mothers holding lifeless babies.
"These images are simply catastrophic."
"I want to start with a very clear message: man-made famine can never be a weapon of war for the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity. This must stop."
Ms von der Leyen also criticised what she called the "financial suffocation" of the Palestinian Authority and Israel's plans for a settlement expansion in the West Bank which would cut it off from East Jerusalem.
"All of this points to a clear attempt to undermine the two-state solution, to undermine the vision of a viable Palestinian state," she said. "And we must not let this happen."
She acknowledged the anger among many Europeans at the inability of the EU to forge a more unified position on Gaza.
She said: "They are asking, how much worse things must get before there is unity in response.
"I understand, because what is happening in Gaza is unacceptable, and because Europe must lead the way, just as it has done before."
"Our financial support and humanitarian aid far outweigh that of any other partner," said Ms von der Leyen.
"Our commitment to a viable Palestinian Authority is keeping the two-state solution alive, and we must urge others to urgently step up."
Europe must fight for its place, says von der Leyen
Ms von der Leyen also warned that Europe must fight for its place in a ruthless world in which major powers are hostile to the European Union.
She said a new Europe must emerge.
"This must be Europe's independence moment," she told MEPs.
She said: "This is our union's mission: to be able to take care of our own defense and security, to take control over the technologies and energies that will fuel our own economies, to decide what kind of society and democracy we want to live in, to be open to the world and choose partnerships with allies, old and new."
"Ultimately, it is about having the freedom and the power to determine our own destiny, and we know we can do it, because together, we have shown what is possible when we have the same ambition, unity and urgency," she said.
Ms von der Leyen said Europe's response to Covid, its recovery plan and the support for Ukraine showed that with unity the EU could achieve results.
"The central question for us today is a simple one, does Europe have the stomach to fight?", she asked.
"Do we have the unity and the sense of urgency, the political will and the political skill to compromise, or do we just find one to fight between ourselves be paralysed by our divisions?"
On overnight drone attacks on Poland, the Commission president said :"We have seen a reckless and unprecedented violation of Poland and Europe's airspace by more than 10 Russian Shaheed drones."
"Europe stands in full solidarity with Poland," Ms von der Leyen said.
She told MEPs: "Putin's message is clear, and our response must be clear too. We need more pressure on Russia to come to the negotiation table. We need more sanctions.
"We are now working on the 19th package, in coordination with partners.
"We're particularly looking at phasing out Russian fossil fuels faster, we are looking at the shadow fleet and at third countries, and at the same time, we need more support for Ukraine.
"No one has contributed as much as Europe, close to 170 billion euros of military and financial aid so far and more will be needed and it should not only be European taxpayers who bear the brunt of this.
"This is Russia's war, and it is Russia, that should pay."
Read more: 'Huge number of Russian drones' violate Polish airspace, says Tusk
