{"id":120618,"date":"2023-10-24T08:20:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T08:20:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uklevitrasupport.com\/?p=120618"},"modified":"2023-10-24T08:20:05","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T08:20:05","slug":"eu-chief-von-der-leyen-re-election-not-guaranteed-with-israel-stance-a-factor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uklevitrasupport.com\/world-news\/eu-chief-von-der-leyen-re-election-not-guaranteed-with-israel-stance-a-factor\/","title":{"rendered":"EU chief von der Leyen re-election not guaranteed with Israel stance ‘a factor’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ursula von der Leyen has been told she cannot take her re-election as European Commission President for granted next year – with some MEPs likely to be \u201cannoyed\u201d by her staunch support for Israel.<\/p>\n

Pieter Cleppe also highlighted a widening \u201csplit\u201d between Ms von der Leyen and Josep Borrell, the bloc\u2019s top diplomat, who on Monday once more accused Israel of being in breach of international law.<\/p>\n

Ms von der Leyen has offered steadfast support for Israel ever since Hamas\u2019s terror attack on October 7 claimed more than 700 lives, with Hamas gunmen also taking at least 199 people hostage.<\/p>\n

Israel has responded with multiple air strikes on Gaza, as well as cutting off fuel and energy supplies.<\/p>\n

The former German defence minister has been reluctant to criticise its approach, and visited the country on October 13 – although she tweeted yesterday: \u201cI made clear that, in its legitimate efforts to fight Hamas terrorists, Israel must seek to protect civilian lives and respect international humanitarian law.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Lawyer’s three word \u2018obliteration\u2019 of BBC News\u2019 Israel war coverage live on air[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n

Rishi Sunak says he ‘stands with Israel’<\/h3>\n

Nevertheless, Mr Borrell has been more strident, and this week took the opportunity to address the question of Israel\u2019s conduct since the attacks,<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIsrael has the right to defend itself, and this has to be done in accordance with international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt cannot be a rhetorical sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking to Express.co.uk yesterday, Pieter Cleppe, Editor-in-chief of BrusselsReport.eu, said: “We can indeed notice a split between Borrell and von der Leyen, as von der Leyen is clearly more strongly siding with Israel.<\/p>\n

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