Recognizing the need to exert “some political pressure” on Israel to reach a ceasefire, Rangel asserts that “genocide presupposes the will to eliminate a people,” which is not the case.
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs refuses to describe what is happening in Gaza as genocide, considering that it would be “unfair” to say that Israel intends to eliminate the Palestinian people, but highlights the existence of a humanitarian catastrophe.
“Genocide presupposes the desire to eliminate a people. It would be very unfair to say that Israel intends to eliminate the Palestinian people.“said Paulo Rangel, in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País, where he highlights that “there is a humanitarian catastrophe that demands condemnation, that demands that Israel accept an immediate ceasefire and that needs to be repaired as quickly as possible.”
Paulo Rangel recalls in the interview that Portugal expressed this position to the Israeli Government and its ambassador in Lisbon.
When asked whether the international community should impose punitive measures on Israel, the Minister responded that “a lot of pressure must be put on the Government”.
Portugal understands that the Israeli State faces an existential threat. This should not be hidden either, but one thing does not eliminate the other.
“That is why we are in favor of the two-state solution, both have the right to exist. The pressure has clearly increased. The United States played a very important role in this sense,” defended the minister, understanding that it is necessary to continue exercising diplomacy and even “some political pressure” on Israel to, at least, achieve a ceasefire.
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Regarding the recognition of Palestine as a State by Spain and other countries, Paulo Rangel stated that Portugal has “a very close position”, “although it is not exactly the same.”
“There is a time difference. “We are consulting with other member states to see what is the most opportune moment to take this step,” the official said, adding that “there is a great European consensus on the two-state issue.”
Rangel also recalled that Portugal “took measures to try to rally reluctant countries in favor of voting on Palestine in the General Assembly.”
In the interview, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also stated that Portugal’s concern “is not to create a dividing line in the European Union, a fracture that radicalizes positions”, but to maintain a “constructive position.”
“Together with Spain, We have long been calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages.. “We are facing a humanitarian catastrophe, a situation of urgency and emergency for the Palestinian people of Gaza, the vast majority of whom are innocent,” he stated.
Source: Observadora
