EU Foreign Ministers Clash Over Aid to Palestinians: Will the Bloc Unravel over Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?

 European Union foreign ministers met on Tuesday in an attempt to address divisions within the bloc regarding the continuation of aid payments to Palestinians. The meeting followed a U-turn by the European Commission on its announcement to suspend all aid payments. The suspension, announced by Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, was opposed by member states including Spain and France.

The disarray within the EU reflects longstanding divisions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While some countries, including Austria and Germany, have suspended their development aid to Palestinians, others, like Spain and France, have expressed opposition to the suspension. The EU ministers convened in Muscat, Oman, where a scheduled gathering of EU and Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers was taking place.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki were invited to join the meeting. The EU's decision on aid payments to Palestinians is crucial as it is the largest provider of external assistance to Palestine. Last year, it gave approximately €283 million ($299.78 million) to support the Palestinian Authority and other projects. The EU aims to strike a balance between providing aid and ensuring that funds do not support terrorist organizations.