ETUC General Secretary John Monks said: “The Israeli response to the repeated provocations by Hamas is totally disproportionate and will only encourage the extremists in Palestine. A country that just a few weeks ago was extended a privileged relationship with the European Union must act responsibly, or consequences should be drawn. The EU reaction so far has been disappointing. The lack of the institutional presence that Javier Solana would have enjoyed had the Lisbon Treaty been in force has led once more to an inadequate response, compounded by indecisiveness on the part of the Presidency.”