“Do not agree”, “regret”, “not useful”

As a motley EU - the "main sponsor of Palestine" - decided to the decision of Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel

Federica Mogherini and Rex Tillerson came to the EU press center with glued smiles, which slightly hidden concern and tension. In any case, they were not in the best mood.

Both talked about strategic partnership and allies between Europe and America. But the head of the EU diplomacy devoted half the speech to the Middle Eastern problem, and the US Secretary of State began with North Korea, moved to Iran and (banned in Russia) ISIS, never mentioning either Israel or Palestine. He left the controversy.

After their short speeches, the forest of hands grew in the hall, but the press secretary of Maya Kosyankich hastily announced that the press conference was over. This happened here only at the visits of the Chinese ...

This happened in Brussels last Tuesday. And the next day, Donald Trump announced the decision to recognize the Jerusalem of the Israeli capital and transfer the American embassy from Tel Aviv.

He knew the attitude of Europeans towards this long -standing project, but he sent his emissar to Europe ahead of time. Just warn, as is customary between friends, or still try to persuade support?

The “press conference” of Tillerson and Mogherini took place immediately after their double-sided meeting, and then the Secretary of State was listened to at their meeting of the foreign ministers of 28 European Union countries. The transcript of meetings of the EU Council is not published, and what ministers said there can only be judged by leaks.

The European Union is not a state. He actually does not have a single foreign policy, and the attitude of his members to the Middle East conflict is not the same. The spectrum is wide enough. Some, like the Czech Republic and Germany, more support Israel. France, where large Muslim and Jewish communities live, tries to hold the middle, often, however, leaning towards the Palestinians. And Sweden three years ago, and completely officially recognized the successful Palestinian state, causing the anger of Israel and the prostilly lobby in Europe. A look -closer look at the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

In general, in the world, and especially in Israel, the European Union is more often perceived as the missing power, because it sequentially stigmatizes Israel for the construction of Jewish settlements on the western coast. In addition, the EU is the main donor of financial assistance to Palestine.

For Europeans, the solution to the Middle Eastern problem is not geopolitics and not prestige, but a security issue. Firstly, stability behind the outskirts. Secondly, the calm of ethnic and religious communities in their countries. Europeans are convinced that by force the Palestinian conflict cannot be resolved and the long, persistent, sometimes seemingly unpromising work on reconciliation is needed. It can be completely argued that reconciliation is impossible, but no one has yet come up with alternatives.

The one, without the nuances “approvam” or “condemns” on the EU Council with the participation of Tillerson did not sound. As a result, the general statement of 28 members of the Union did not work out. He, as informed sources, reported him, was blocked by the representative of Hungary - the current Enfant Terrible of the European Union. The consolidated position was expressed by Mogherini.

In her words, frustration and disappointment sounded rather than condemnation. In any case, the EU still considers the United States the main partner in the Middle Eastern settlement. The problem worsened, but the world did not turn over.

Trump's announcement, according to Mogherini, promises very alarming consequences. In conditions of a fragile world, it can return everyone to an even more gloomy past. The European Union continues to stand that the path to resolving the conflict between Israel and Palestine is the coexistence of the two states, the capital of each of which will be Jerusalem.

Mogherini said that she clearly told Tillerson about disagreement with the US president and that she was supported by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU countries. Europe will respect the current international consensus on Jerusalem until both parties are determined by negotiations by negotiations. And now the main thing is to avoid escalation on the ground.

Whatever the nuances distinguish the views of the EU countries, in general, their governments spoke out in the same spirit as Mogherini: absolute priority is the safety of Israel with peaceful coexistence in the ancient Palestine of two states.

Angela Merkel in a pause between the concerns to overcome the political crisis in Germany hastened not to approve Trump's decision. The German government does not support the American position, because the status of Jerusalem should be settled by negotiations between the parties based on the creation of two states.

The UK is too busy with Brexit, but its representative at the UN Jonathan Allen quickly reacted, saying that his country urged the United States as soon as possible to give specific proposals for the Middle East settlement. London made it clear that he did not agree with the decision of Washington, which is “not useful” in the current situation.

Emmanuel Macron, who, in an atmosphere of excessive employment of colleagues in Germany and Great Britain, increasingly makes applications for leadership in the EU, called Trump’s decision “worthy of regret and unacceptable for France”.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michelle directly condemned Trump’s decision, and the Czech Republic announced that he would consider moving his embassy to Jerusalem only according to the results of negotiations with key partners in the region and in the world.

The European Union patiently continues the exhausting work on the reconciliation of the Palestinians and Israelis and the creation of two states, because he does not see alternatives in the foreseeable future, except for enmity, violence and instability that infect Europe and warm up terrorism. Judging by the words of Mogherini, he is ready to take any measures, including bringing out disagreements with Russia beyond the brackets, and within the framework of the Middle Eastern Quartet (together with the United States, Russia and the UN), “play a decisive role in the restart of the peace process”.

On Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu will take part in a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the EU (his arrival is scheduled for a long time before Trump's performance), and Makhmut Abbas was invited to the next meeting, in January, in January, in January,

Brussels