FILE PHOTO: European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks to members of the media ahead of a EU-US Energy Council Ministerial Meeting in Brussels , Belgium April 4, 2023. The U.S. Secretary of State will take part later today in a two days Nato foreign ministers council. Olivier Matthys/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday condemned the escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians, urging all parties to exercise restraint and promote calm for the ongoing religious holidays.
Israeli-Palestinian tensions mounted after an Italian tourist was killed and five people were wounded in a car ramming in Tel Aviv on Friday following a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank that killed two Israeli sisters.
“Israel has the right to defend itself. At the same time, any response must be proportionate. The EU calls for an immediate end to the ongoing violence. Everything must be done to prevent the conflict from spreading,” Borrell said in a statement.
“We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to avoid further escalation and promote calm for the ongoing religious holidays,” he said.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Judaism’s Passover and Christian Easter are all occuring this month.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Toby Chopra)
