EU’s foreign policy chief backs two-state solution to Israeli-Palestine conflict
The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas voiced support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestine conflict at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, emphasizing that Palestinians have the right to remain in the Gaza Strip.
"If you read Israel's history and its founding, you will see very clearly that the founders agreed on the necessity of combining security with justice. This means that Palestinians have rights, and these rights must be respected. They have the right to be there. Israelis are concerned about their security, but Palestinians also deserve to have a state," she said. "That is why I believe we need to strike a balance, and this is why the EU supports a two-state solution.”
Kallas announced that the EU-Israel Association Council will convene Feb. 24 to discuss the situation in Gaza, followed by overall regional developments.
Unlike previous meetings, this time, in addition to the EU's top leadership, representatives from all 27 EU member states will attend.
"This time, member states really want to have a very open and sincere discussion with Israel. You know, this is how friends and allies work. This way, we can be truly open and honest with each other, and we can also bring up very difficult topics," Kallas stated.
During the conference, Kallas also responded to a speech by US Vice President JD Vance, which she said felt confrontational toward Europe.
“Listening to that speech, they try to pick a fight with us, and we don’t want to pick a fight with our friends,” Kallas remarked.
She argued that rather than internal disputes, allies should be prioritizing larger threats, particularly Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Kallas stated that any US-mediated negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war must also include Ukraine and the EU, otherwise the peace agreement will not be feasible.
She highlighted the many roles the EU can play in the turbulent international environment, emphasizing that "we are a reliable and predictable partner."
She acknowledged that if the US withdraws from its international commitments, the EU cannot completely fill the gap.
However, she stressed that the EU is committed to doing everything possible in areas that are strategically important to the bloc.
"This is why we are absolutely looking for ways to act as a geopolitical player and increase our geopolitical power," Kallas stated.
On a potential peace deal, Kallas insisted that any agreement must be accepted by Ukrainians to be effective.
"We don’t know exactly what is being discussed at the table, but any agreement must be acceptable to Ukrainians," she said.
She also cast doubt on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness for peace, citing Russia’s continued bombing of Ukrainian infrastructure, including nuclear power plants.
"If he wanted peace, he could simply stop bombing Ukraine. It’s that simple, but he’s not doing it," Kallas asserted.
Kallas reaffirmed that joining NATO remains Ukraine’s best protection against future aggression.
"In fact, NATO membership is also the cheapest security guarantee because it truly deters Russia," she stated.
However, she warned that if NATO membership is not an option, leaders must define what "security guarantees" actually mean.
"If you are saying ‘we provide security guarantees,’ what do you mean? Are you willing to deploy troops on the ground? Are you willing to provide capabilities and ammunition? And if so, will you do it at a scale sufficient to deter future wars and conflicts?" she said.
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