EU staff take commission head to task

Von der Leyen under fire over alleged bias as calls renewed for Gaza truce

Staff of European Union institutions have accused the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of bias in the Palestine-Israel armed conflict, as mass demonstrations were held across Europe calling for an end to the crisis.

About 800 EU staff signed a letter that was delivered to von der Leyen's office on Friday to protest against what was said to be her bias toward Israel by ignoring the stance of member states.

"We are concerned about the unconditional support by the European Commission you represent, for one of the two parties," said the three-page letter, signed by EU staff in Brussels and representative offices worldwide.

"We, a group of EU Commission and other EU institutions' staff, solemnly condemn on personal grounds the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against helpless civilians … We equally strongly condemn the disproportionate reaction by the Israeli government against the 2.3 million Palestinian civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip.

"Precisely because of these atrocities we are surprised by the stance the European Commission has taken — and even other EU institutions — promoting what has been described in the press as European cacophony."

The staff also voiced concerns about "the seeming indifference demonstrated over the past few days by our institution toward the ongoing massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip, in disregard for human rights and international humanitarian law".

"We urge you to call, together with the leaders of the whole union, for a cease-fire and for the protection of civilian life. This is at the core of the EU existence.

"The EU risks losing all credibility."

Von der Leyen was also criticized for a speech she made at the Hudson Institution in Washington last week in which she neglected to mention the two-state solution, a core EU position that was referred to in a joint statement by European Council members on Oct 15.

Some Members of the European Parliament also criticized her for failing, on a trip to Israel last week, to urge the country to abide by international law in its siege and bombardments in Gaza.