TEHRAN – Mark Botenga, a Belgian member of the European Parliament, called on the EU for not responding to Israel’s attacks on Iran.
At the plenary session on Tuesday, June 17, Botenga claimed that the European Parliament was voting to formally condemn Israel’s “illegal and criminal attacks.”
Israel launched a massive, unprovoked attack on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities on Friday, June 13th, and since then, the two countries have traded attacks, killing dozens of people on both sides.
Botenga then criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for defending Israel’s right to self-defense, saying that Israel was the first to launch an attack on Iran.
“They’re attacking. They’re nuclear. They’re threatening,” he said.
Botenga also pointed out that targeting civilians, including Israeli children, and deliberate surprises near nuclear facilities, created the risk of a nuclear catastrophe with popular civilian casualties, and that the EU is seeking consistency in the defense of international law and human rights.
He added that failing to condemn Israel’s actions would undermine the reliability of the EU and contribute to violating international law.
The council voted for a resolution condemning Israel’s attack, but the vote was ultimately rejected by the council.
Botenga has consistently used his platform to invoke double standards of EU foreign policy, and has been a defender of Palestinian voices of rights since Israel began genocide in Gaza.
“We cannot condemn this and cannot continue to support criminal conduct that is contrary to international law and human rights,” he said at the end of his speech.
Highlights: “They’re attacking. They’re nuclear. They’re threatening.”