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World Jewish News
The Czech Republic Planning to Reinforce the Partnership of EU and Israel
03.01.2009
On January 1, the Czech Republic will replace France and assume the E.U.’s rotating presidency. The day before the Czech Foreign Minister Karel von Schwarzenberg demanded of the French leadership to stop making statements with personal initiatives on the Gaza Strip situation, and said he was planning to visit Israel in the nearest future, as reported by Kol Israel radio station.
Earlier in the interview to Mlada Fronta Dnes newspaper von Schwarzenberg claimed the HAMAS terrorist organization guilty of the escalation of Gaza conflict. He said Israel had every right to defend itself against constant missile attacks from the Gaza strip.
Schwarzenberg also criticized the leaders of other European countries by saying he was too old to seek for cheap popularity by means of condemning Israel, and preferred to say the truth. According to him, unfortunately, a number of European countries historically have pro-Palestinian sympathies.
Von Schwarzenberg said that as EU Chair the Czech Republic plans to reinforce the partnership of the EU and Israel, although some countries do not see it necessary, as reported by CNSnews. Besides, he is planning to organize a European-Palestinian summit.
Foregn Minister’s stance was supported by President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Přemysl Sobotka, who told the Ceske Noviny newspaper that the Israeli military operation was "only a retaliatory reaction to terrorism from the Palestinian side."
The CNSNews note that the Czech E.U. presidency will considerably differ from those of its predecessors, namely in its Middle Eastern policies.
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