EU members reject push to suspend association agreement with Israel
The proposal failed to win unanimous backing, leaving the 2000 trade pact in place despite claims that Israel breached human rights obligations.
- On Tuesday, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg rejected a push by Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing insufficient consensus among member states.
- The three countries argued Israel breached Article 2 of the 1995 agreement, citing humanitarian crises in Gaza and a newly proposed Knesset law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted in military courts.
- Suspending the full agreement requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states, while a partial suspension needs a qualified majority representing at least 55% of states and 65% of the EU population.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed no support existed for suspension, while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called for "critical, constructive dialogue" with Israel instead.
- France and Sweden are pushing to limit commercial activity from settlements, with diplomats suggesting that broader sanctions could advance after a new Hungarian government takes office in May.
66 Articles
66 Articles
The EU still has no guts when it comes to Israel
In a sign of mounting pressure on European leaders over Israel’s violence in occupied Palestinian territories and beyond, more than a million EU citizens have called for suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement via a European Citizens' Initiative — a mechanism that, having passed the threshold, obliged the bloc to consider it. Too bad the predominant elite voices in the EU are quashing it, a hypocrisy that grows by the day.Over 350 form…
Evening Standard
perspectivemedia.com‘Substantial shift’ among EU states on Israel, says Irish Foreign Affairs Minister
Helen McEntee was speaking after members rejected a proposal from Ireland, Spain and Slovenia to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Spain, Ireland, Slovenia urge EU to review Israel ties over rights concerns
Spain, Ireland and Slovenia call on the EU to reconsider cooperation with Israel, citing human rights concerns and worsening conditions in Gaza. Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have urged the European Union to suspend or review cooperation agreements with Israel over alleged human rights violations. In a joint letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the three countries said the bloc can no longer remain “on the sidelines” as conditions worsen…
Brussels. Spain, Ireland and Slovenia pressed yesterday for the European Union (EU) to suspend the Association Agreement with Israel (which governs political, economic and trade relations between the two sides), however, the bloc remained divided on the subject.
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