Israel’s overseas minister chides EU’s prime diplomat for criticizing Israeli airstrike in Gaza

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz lashed out Saturday at European Union Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, calling the EU’s top diplomat an anti-semite and “Israel hater” for condemning an Israeli airstrike last week in the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Borrell said he was “outraged” after Israeli airstrikes last week targeted a school in the Nuseirat refugee camp that sheltered 12,000 Palestinians who are displaced by the fighting between the Hamas militant group and Israel. He blamed the air attacks on the death of several staffers with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

“The disregard of the basic principles of (international humanitarian law), especially the protection of civilians, cannot and should not be accepted by the international community,” Mr. Borrell posted on X.

Mr. Katz said Saturday that Mr. Borrell spends most of his time trying to pass resolutions and sanctions against Israel in the EU, only to be blocked by most member states.

“There’s a difference between legitimate criticism and policy disagreements, which are normal among friends, and the anti-Semitic, hate-filled campaign Borrell is leading against Israel — reminiscent of history’s worst anti-Semites,” Mr. Katz posted Saturday on X.

He accused Mr. Borrell of focusing on “anti-Israel initiatives” rather than acting against Iran’s malign influence in the region that threatens Europe’s security.

“Mr. Borrell, the Jewish people are ancient and eternal, and the State of Israel will endure forever in peace and security, while you and your legacy will be forgotten,” Mr. Katz posted.

Mr. Borrell denied Mr. Katz’s accusations, saying it “doesn’t make sense” to accuse someone of antisemitism merely for disagreeing with a government policy.

“There have unfortunately been examples in history of what it means to be antisemitic, and I don’t think we should play with big words that have had a tragic dimension in history,” he said, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Israel’s representative to the United Nations said that Israel’s Sept. 11 airstrikes were made on a Hamas headquarters in the refugee compound. Ambassador Danny Danon some of those who were killed took part in Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre of Israeli civilians that triggered the war.

“How long will the UN continue to bury its head in the sand and ignore the fact that Hamas terrorists have taken over UNRWA?” Ambassador Danon posted last week on X. “These murderers are not aid workers. They are terrorists with blood on their hands and were rightly eliminated.”