EU should be prepared for post-conflict scenarios in Gaza: German chancellor

• Olaf Scholz says European countries should play stronger role in shaping post-conflict order, and make their contribution for peace and stability
• He says after the war, Palestinian Authority should take on the responsibility in Gaza, and should be supported by Europeans and regional countries

BERLIN

The European Union should be prepared for post-conflict scenarios in the Gaza Strip, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday.

Addressing lawmakers at the parliament before heading to Brussels for a summit of EU leaders, Scholz said Europeans should play a strong role in shaping the post-conflict order.

“We already need to think about the time after the end of the armed conflict. We will have to discuss how a sustainable security order can look like, and Europe should get involved in this discussion,” he said.

Scholz argued that the post-conflict order in Gaza should be designed in a way that would ensure security for the citizens of Israel.

“Such an order should also involve countries in the region. Especially those countries that have concluded normalization agreements with Israel, or have been considering to do so,” he said.

Scholz did not get into the details of his idea but said efforts should also be taken to strengthen the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA), to take on the practical responsibility in Gaza.

“There is no way other than strengthening the political responsibility of the Palestinian Authority, also for Gaza, and while doing this, we have to also address its obvious deficiencies,” he said.

Scholz also underlined the importance of rebuilding Gaza after the war, enhancing economic prospects for the Palestinians, to bring peace and stability to the region.

“The EU can play a role in this, but the countries in the region and the Gulf states should also take responsibility,” he said.

Scholz restated his government’s long-held position that only a two-state solution can bring peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.

“We will only succeed if there is also a political solution. And this solution is and remains a two-state solution, which must be approached step by step,” he said.

He completed his remarks by arguing that a settlement of the conflict would allow Israel to focus on the most important strategic threat it faces, Iran and its regional allies.