According to Foreign Minister Valtonen, there is no contradiction in Finland's Israel policy, even though it may sound like it.
On the weekend Iran made a dark history. On the night between Saturday and Sunday it struck for the first time ever directly to Israel with about 300 missiles and airplanes.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen (kok) tells HS that despite the successful defense of Israel and its partners, the situation still looks very serious.
He says that he conveyed it to Israel's foreign minister on Tuesday to Israel Katz Finland's position on the situation: we condemn Iran's strike, but we don't really encourage Israel to strike back.
“Now we hope for patience from all parties and rather steps towards de-escalation and calming and stabilizing the situation,” says Valtonen.
Foreign Minister Katz told on Tuesday that he appealed to several countries to impose sanctions on Iran's missile program. According to Valtonen, he is aware of the petition and says that the subject is scheduled to be discussed on Tuesday evening at the meeting of EU foreign ministers.
“But of course Finland takes a cautiously positive approach to this.”
European attitude towards the Israel-Palestine conflict is some kind of herring salad.
Spain and Ireland are considering recognition of Palestine, while German and Austrian support for Israel is so strong that Politico sources say that the federal chancellors are frustrated with the person in charge of the EU's external relations to Josep Borrell.
Valtonen does not recognize the exact dividing lines that run within the EU, but says that there is consensus on the vast majority of issues related to the Middle East.
For example, the terrorist attacks of October 7 by Hamas have been unanimously condemned and Israel's right to self-defense within the framework of international law and humanitarian law has been recognized.
According to him, in the question of when those frameworks have possibly been exceeded, political judgment should not be used, but the decision should be made by international law jurists.
If However, Finland's position on the situation should be summed up somehow, what would it be?
Valtonen emphasizes that Finland is Israel's partner in many ways and recognizes its right to defend itself – like the EU – within the framework of international law.
At the same time, however, according to Valtonen, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is on the brink of an abyss.
“Of course, we have the right and duty to take care that once again civilians are protected and that humanitarian right is actually fulfilled,” says Valtonen.
“And now there have been indications that this has not been the case all along.”
Valtonen says that Finland has promoted the situation of civilians in the region by appealing to Israel both bilaterally and through organizations such as the EU and the UN.
Finland on the EU front has demanded Humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. In addition, according to Valtonen, Finland has demanded that Israel deliver humanitarian aid, condemned settlement violence and supported EU sanctions against Israelis guilty of settlement violence.
“There is no contradiction in Finland's Israel policy, even though it might sound a little like that,” says Valtonen.
Correction 4/16/2024 at 8:05 p.m.: Israel's foreign minister's name is Israel Katz, not Israel Gantz, as was written earlier in the story.
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