| The EU’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demonstrated that it can act decisively and unitedly, in part thanks to a coherent communication strategy. But what works with one war, doesn’t necessarily work with another, as became painfully obvious with the Israel-Hamas war. While it is unlikely the EU will play a major role in Middle East peace mediation, the least it can do is be coherent on the issue. Speaking after an EU foreign ministers meeting on Tuesday, the EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said Israel has the right to defend itself, “but it has to be done accordingly with international law, humanitarian law, and some of the decisions are contrary to international law”. “An overwhelming majority, with maybe two or three exceptions, of the member states, stated clearly that the cooperation with the Palestinian Authority has to continue and the funding has to continue and the payments should not be interrupted,” he said. “Not all the Palestinian people are terrorists,” he added. “So a collective punishment against all Palestinians will be unfair and unproductive, will be against our interest and against the interest of the peace.” His reassurances were meant to end the confusion after the flip-flopping by the European Commission over the last two days created the impression that the bloc was suspending most of its aid to the Palestinians. | 