The hearing was about the State Budget, but ended up revolving, much of the time, around the Portuguese position on Israel and the conflict in Gaza. In this sense, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, stressed that Portugal considers several of the Israeli actions “highly reprehensible” and that it will be available, in 2025, to continue supporting the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

Despite highlighting the “very normal” relations that Portugal maintains with Israel, and beginning by arguing that Israel responded in “self-defense” to the “atrocious” attack by Hamas and the “unacceptable” attacks by Iran, Rangel then stressed that Israel “has committed a series of highly reprehensible acts according to humanitarian law and must be censured for it.”

“We will be very critical of this government’s policy. Nothing to do with the two-state solution, which we will do everything possible to respect. Yeah [Israel] “If we make a mistake, we will not stop criticizing it,” he said, emphasizing that in Gaza there is a “humanitarian catastrophe” and a blockade that prevents the necessary aid from entering. “I say it with a heavy heart, but I can’t help but say it.”

The minister included in the range of criticisms of Israel the decision to prohibit access to the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, adding that Portugal has already prohibited the export of weapons and prohibited their overflight in Portuguese territory. Subsequently, he also criticized the position taken by the Israeli Parliament in prohibiting the agency’s access to the territories where the majority of Palestinians are located (in addition to Israel, access to Gaza and the West Bank was limited).

“Portugal has no doubt that [a UNRWA] is the only agency that still has some capacity to distribute [ajuda]within the limitations, which are terrible,” defended the Minister of Foreign Affairs. “Naturally, within the EU framework we are available to strengthen support for UNRWA”.

Still, during the debate with the PCP parliamentary leader, Paula Santos, on the issue, the minister was accused of being “benevolent towards the genocide” that the communists believe is taking place in Gaza, and responded harshly: “I don’t care. say in benevolence towards genocide, because I do not admit it. You can say what you want, but I will not admit it to you, because I am not, nor have I been nor have I belonged to any party.”

Also regarding support for UNRWA, Rangel said that “it is not ruled out, on the contrary,” that Portugal will help the agency again next year (it dedicated eleven million euros to it in 2024), but that it will not do so “to trailer of the Communist Party”, rather through an agreement with its European partners.

New barb to PCP: “I am still waiting for the PCP to condemn Iran’s attacks, to properly condemn the October 7 attacks, and then to legitimately condemn other excesses. [de Israel]that undoubtedly exist”shot.

Another point that the left-wing groups repeatedly insisted on was the recognition of the State of Palestine, something that the official assured would happen, but not for now, because this act “has a role and a place” and would now be, for Rangel, especially “symbolic and moral”. “Of course the day will come when we will recognize Palestine. But there are already 147 countries [que reocnhecem o país] and apparently the catastrophic situation continues. The Government’s position at this moment is the one that I consider most balanced: we condemn Israel for its excesses, we believe that the time for recognition has not yet arrived.” And he took the opportunity to remember that the position of the PS, which is in favor of the recognition of Palestine, was no different when it was in the Government: “It does not differ at all from the position of the PS at the end of March. There is no document that proves that the PS government was thinking of recognizing it. If there is, please show me.”

Even so, the minister stressed, Portugal’s position cannot deviate from “any withdrawal” in terms of support for the two-state solution or “the strategy of the Government of Israel”, for example in the West Bank, so that “in a progressive situation “This is also something that must be denounced,” he stressed.

Rangel praises “awake accounts” and leaves guarantees about the US and Venezuela

At the beginning of the hearing, Paulo Rangel had spoken of a more comprehensive perspective of the Budget, guaranteeing that “it does justice to the public administration after years of inertia and empty promises”, that is, to the careers that will have salary increases and a “ incomparable incentive for the younger generation” in tax matters.

In short, the minister stated, this Budget reformulates the motto of correct accounts towards “credible accounts, but with a reformist and change drive.” Or, as I said later: “Correct accounts that are not asleep, wake up. “They awaken greater growth and launch a dynamic and ambitious Portugal”. Even so, Rangel assumed that there are many international uncertainties – “it almost seems that climate change has infected geopolitics and made it unpredictable and indomitable” – and that the OE, which in terms of Foreign Affairs grew by 10.1%, It was designed to adapt to this “more hostile environment.”

During a hearing that lasted more than four hours and in which he was questioned on the most varied topics, Rangel promised that Portugal “will respect any result” and will maintain “all institutional channels” with the United States after the North American elections, but that even That is why it is investing in “strengthening” its relationship with the United Kingdom; reaffirmed “clear” support for Ukraine; He also repeatedly reaffirmed his support for António Guterres, although he criticized his absence at the Zurich conference: “it was not happy”; and guaranteed that Portugal will not recognize the alleged electoral results in Venezuela in any case: “even if the electoral records appeared now, they would have been resurrected, they would not deserve any credibility.”