Hungary and Austria on Wednesday warned their counterparts in the European Union against endorsing a double standard against Israel with regards to EU resolutions.
Budapest and Vienna have consistently been the sole opponent to the harsh criticism expressed by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell against the Jewish state since the government said it plans to go ahead with plans to apply Israeli law to large parts of Judea and Samaria.
Borrell said last week that he will explore the option of imposing sanctions on Israel if it goes through with the move, endorsed by the US.
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The 27-nation EU decides on foreign policy moves by consensus, but Borrell has repeatedly disregarded a minority of member states' opposition to his threats against or condemnations of Israel.
On Monday night, Borrell, with the support of 25 of the EU's member states, issued a statement saying, "We strongly urge Israel to refrain from any unilateral decision that would lead to the annexation of any occupied Palestinian territory and would be, as such, contrary to International Law."
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said his country rejects "prejudice" against Israel and called to hold a dialogue with the new government, according to the Austrian news site Kurier.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Austria and Hungary urged Borrell to invite Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi to the EU Foreign Affairs Council's meeting on Friday.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticized Borrell's "megaphone diplomacy," saying, "We called for a gradual approach of caution, not rushing forward and certainly not alienating Israel," the Hungarian source said. "We believe Israel is a really important strategic partner in the Mediterranean region."
Borrell's belligerent rhetoric does a disservice to the EU, especially if it wants to be taken seriously by Israel and the US as a player in the Middle East peace process, a ministry official said.
Hungary and Austria opposed Borrell's previous statements against Israel, including one that said annexation "would not go unchallenged," which Israel's Foreign Ministry described as a threat.
Also on Wednesday, French Ambassador to the UN Nicolas de Riviere warned Israel that any annexation move "would not be without consequences to the EU relationship with Israel."
Annexation "would be detrimental to Israel's role in the world, to its integration in its regional environment, as well as to Israel's relationships with its partners," he said.
Belgian Ambassador to the UN Marc Pecsteen told the Security Council that his country remained "deeply concerned" about the portions of the Likud and Blue and White parties coalition deal that would allow Israel to apply sovereignty to Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria as early as July 2020.
"We call on the international community to exert all efforts to prevent any such steps," he said.
US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft called on Israelis and Palestinians to return to the negotiating table.
"If both sides are serious about their talking, it is time for both sides to prove it," she said.
Craft told the UNSC their statements of "concern" would not resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"This council cannot dictate the end to this conflict," she said. "We can only encourage the parties to sit down together to determine how they wish to make progress."
