One of the topics planned for discussion at the EU parliament in Brussels today was, Palestine.
Palestine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Riad Al-Malki was scheduled to attend a seminar at the EU Government HQ according to this weeks agenda:
“Palestine: Palestine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Riad Al-Malki will join Foreign Affairs Committee Members to debate the political situation there, including the inter-Palestinian reconciliation talks, the economic and humanitarian situation in occupied Palestinian territories, initiatives for re-launching Middle East peace process, and the regional situation.
Grand Mufti of Egypt: Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, Grand Mufti of Egypt, will also join the Foreign Affairs Committee to debate inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue.”
The EU government building is very close to where the Metro bomb exploded earlier in the morning.
According to reports the European Commission’s vice-president Kristalina Georgieva said all meetings were cancelled and urged people to “stay home or inside buildings” following reports of an explosion at Maelbeek station.
A European Council tweet said: “Closely monitoring the situation. All meetings cancelled this morning. Priority to ensure safety of staff & visitors.”
Despite that, however it turns out that the Palestine debate went ahead.
This may be nothing more than a coincidence, although it is worth going back to the sinister threats that were issued to France in 2014 by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He warned: “It would be a grave mistake for France to recognize Palestine as a free and independent state”.