News Digest

'We cannot afford another war', says EU foreign chief in call for Palestinian state

The European Union’s new foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini on Saturday called for the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying the world “cannot afford” another war in Gaza. Mogherini’s visit comes against a backdrop of surging Israeli-Palestinian tensions in annexed east Jerusalem where there have been near-daily clashes in flashpoint neighbourhoods. She voiced hope that Gaza would avoid another major conflict. “It is not only the people of Gaza that can’t afford having a fourth war, all the world cannot afford this,” she said.

We need a Palestinian state – that is the ultimate goal and this is the position of all the European Union. We cannot just sit and wait. If we sit and wait it will go on for another 40 years.

Frederica Mogherini, EU foreign affairs chief during a visit to Gaza

Palestinians are seeking to achieve statehood in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank with east Jerusalem as the capital. Sweden last month became the first EU member in western Europe to officially recognise the state of Palestine. Asked whether the EU might do the same, Mogherini said that such a move was “not among the competences” of the 28-nation bloc. Stone-throwing Palestinians battled Israeli police in a refugee camp in east Jerusalem Friday. Clashes shook the Shuafat camp for a third straight day, with security forces firing tear gas at crowds of youths who set alight tyres and rubbish bins.