Gideon talks to Baroness Catherine Ashton, former high representative of the EU on foreign affairs, about the role of diplomacy in helping to contain the Israel-Gaza conflict. They discuss the challenges of finding a consistent European position, Tony Blinken's role, the potential conflict between Iran and Israel, and the need for long-term solutions in Gaza.
Opinions within the EU on the Middle East have become more fragmented over time, creating challenges in dealing with unresolved issues and inconsistent politics within Europe.
Europe's role is crucial in supporting a two-state solution in the Middle East by finding ways to economically and politically support both the Palestinian people and the state of Israel, offering opportunities for security and economic development for both sides.
Deep dives
Fragmented opinions on EU policy towards the Middle East
Baroness Catherine Ashton discusses how opinions within the EU on the Middle East have become more fragmented over time. She highlights the challenges of dealing with unresolved issues and the inconsistent politics within Europe. Efforts are being made to gather a common position, both for clarity in diplomatic work and to contribute to finding ways to help the situation.
Europe's role in supporting a two-state solution
Baroness Catherine Ashton emphasizes the importance of Europe's role in economically and politically supporting a two-state solution in the Middle East. She explains the need for Europe to find ways to be supportive of both the Palestinian people and the state of Israel. While acknowledging the difficulty of the task, she suggests that Europe's support can provide opportunities for security and economic development for both sides.
Concerns about the wider conflict and Iran's role
Baroness Catherine Ashton expresses concerns about the potential for a wider conflict in the Middle East and sheds light on Iran's involvement. She notes Iran's vocal support for Hamas and the possibility of Iran using the situation to dominate the regional agenda. She also mentions the importance of managing the nuclear deal with Iran and the potential impact of the upcoming American elections on diplomatic conversations with Iran.
Gideon talks to Baroness Catherine Ashton, former high representative of the EU on foreign affairs, about the role of diplomacy in helping to contain the Israel-Gaza conflict. Clip: The White House