Read on Twitter
As @SecPompeo Pompeo visits Israel and the incoming govt preps to take office, Europe has started to consider its moves if #Israel pushes ahead with annexation. That work has gone further than officials had indicated. Thread: With @felschwartz https://www.wsj.com/articles/secretary-pompeo-in-israel-discusses-annexation-amid-coronavirus-lockdown-11589395697">https://www.wsj.com/articles/... -1-
In Feb, March EU Quartet rep @STerstalEU met several times with small groups of member states to discuss the Is/Pal situation and the possibility of annexation. In the last few days, @eu_eeas circulated a report that was essentially the suggestions put to her in EU capitals-2-
There& #39;s range. Hardest hitting are calling for a @EU_Commission review of #Isreal access to #Horizon Europe and Erasmus programs and to other forms of EU funding. Other suggestions inc. tightening guidance to stop money flowing to Israeli firms/entities in Occupied Territories-3-
and increasing funding for Palestinians in areas considered crucial to maintain possibility of a two-state solution if annexation proceeds. There is of course also the public call by Asselborn to recognize Palestine if annexation happens. The report with these suggestions was-4-
discussed Monday at PSC with @STerstalEU present. She essentially told them, diplos say, this is effectively the member states paper -- ie this wasn& #39;t an EU options paper but a collection of what member states had said to her. As previously reported, a number of countries -5-
have asked for an EU options paper on annexation response but that hasn& #39;t so far happened and Hungary at least is dead set against though they can& #39;t stop @JosepBorrellF doing one if he wishes. On Friday, EU foreign ministers meet to discuss all this. As @JosepBorrellF said -6-
yesterday, don& #39;t expect any decisions on Friday. I hear he may be mandated to reach out to Israel, Pals and other partners to see how EU can be constructive. Also interesting to watch if he says he& #39;ll produce an options paper on annexation or has been asked to produce one. -7-
Outcome of all this is not a foregone conclusion - not least because it& #39;s not clear what Israeli govt will actually do - but sources tell me #annexation is a real red line and that, as @JosepBorrellF and others have said, it could not go unanswered. Israelis aware of all this -8-
And they& #39;re certainly not excluding the possibility this ends with some real EU response from what I hear. They& #39;re also clear that Israel& #39;s significant access to Horizon Europe would be a big deal for both sides and would represent a blow to the flagship cooperation vehicle -9-
So from moment @JosepBorrellF picks up phone to new Israeli foreign min (expected Thu), we& #39;re in for big few months in EU-Israel ties that could produce significant shifts, new tensions. For detail on #Israel & Horizon Europe, see here. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/dashboard/extensions/CountryProfile/CountryProfile.html?Country=Israel">https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/dashboard... END
