EU summit

Nehammer: There are many escalations worldwide

Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer

(Bild: AP)

According to Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), following Iran's attack on Israel, the EU wants to act in such a way that the counter-reaction "does not trigger a conflagration". At the same time, he called for full support for Ukraine - Russia must realize that the EU is not weak here.

"What we are all working towards for Israel's security policy is to ensure that any counter-response is moderate," Nehammer announced before the start of the EU summit in Brussels on Wednesday.

This was difficult for Israel following the attack by Iran, "because this direct conflict situation represents a change in the security situation on a dramatic scale", Nehammer continued. Iran's direct attack on Israel was "a paradigm shift". "All efforts are now being made to contain the conflict so that it does not become a conflagration, so that there is no total escalation," said the Federal Chancellor.

When asked whether he would advise Israel against a counter-strike, Nehammer said that this would be "a very sensitive question". Iran has the destruction of Israel written into its constitution. "The fact that it is now attacking Israel directly is the actual change in the security situation."

Austrian-Israeli hostage still in the hands of Hamas
For Austria, Israel's war against the radical Islamic terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip is also a major topic at the EU summit. An Austrian-Israeli hostage is still in the hands of Hamas. Austria supports all efforts to secure the release of the hostages and humanitarian access.

Austria continues to support Israel in the issue of destroying the terrorist part of Hamas, said Nehammer. This was also important for the security of the European Union. At the same time, Austria attached importance to making humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip possible.

At the same time, full support from Ukraine is still needed so that Russia realizes that the EU is not weak here, warned Nehammer. "We now have a large number of escalations worldwide. All of this is contributing to the destabilization of the security situation." The EU must maintain its clear stance on Ukraine and also address other conflicts. "Any other signal would be fatal", it would encourage Russia to continue its offensive even more brutally.