Ian Borg Refuses To Call Gaza Conflict A Genocide And Shows Metsola Similarities Again
Malta’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg has once again shown that, despite all the noise, his stance on the Gaza war is practically identical to that of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
In an interview with MaltaToday, Borg was asked straight out whether he considers what is happening in Gaza to be a genocide.
However, unlike PL MEP Alex Agius Saliba, Borg refused to go there and instead adopted the diplomatic approach.
“In this case, pictures speak louder than any words. We can argue about the choice of words we use,” he said.
“But the pictures of dead children, left helpless in hospitals that are unable to function, parents fleeing their homes… you can choose whatever word you like to describe this, but all this is clearly unacceptable. These people cannot be made to suffer because of the acts of a terrorist group.”
Metsola has come under fire locally for her stance on the Israel-Gaza war, with Prime Minister Robert Abela accusing her of pro-Israel bias and calling out the EU for proposing humanitarian pauses, rather than a ceasefire.
However, when it came to the crunch, Malta – in its current capacity as a United Nations Security Council member – proposed humanitarian pauses, rather than a ceasefire.
This was necessary to get the resolution through as the likes of the USA would have vetoed a ceasefire on the grounds that it would have suggested Israel doesn’t have the right to defend itself from terrorists.
Ian Borg and Roberta Metsola
“Our resolution is not perfect. But had we not negotiated, through continuous phone calls and contacts, to get an agreement on the wording we would not have even managed to get this resolution approved,” Borg said.
Borg understands the nature of diplomacy, and how sometimes it is practically better to compromise a lot and gain a little rather than stick to your principles and get nothing done at all.
He also understands the importance of words, which is why he refused to denounce the war as a “genocide” and why – unlike Abela – he didn’t hesitate to call Hamas a terrorist group.
The irony is that this path of international diplomacy is the same strategy that Metsola has adopted, and which has seen her heavily criticised by Borg’s own government. However, Borg’s latest interview continues to prove that this anti-Metsola rhetoric is nothing but political theatre.
Do you agree with Malta’s decision to go down the diplomatic route rather than demand a ceasefire?
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