Suspension of the EU-Israel Partnership: A Test of European Values - Jordan News

Jordan News

5 days ago

At a bloody historical moment, in which humanity is undergoing a severe test, crimes are unfolding in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank amid a shameful international silence and European inaction that amounts to complicity. While Israel is committing documented acts of genocide as confirmed by UN organizations—foremost among them UNRWA and the Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories—as well as major human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and others, the European Union remains committed to its partnership with the occupation state, disregarding the blatant violations these crimes represent of international humanitarian law and the values the Union claims to uphold. اضافة اعلان The EU-Israel Association Agreement includes in Article Two a binding obligation for both parties to respect human rights and democratic principles as a fundamental basis of the relationship. But for nearly the past twenty months, this article has been violated daily and cold-bloodedly in scenes that no eye can miss: bombing of hospitals, targeting of schools and shelters, cutting off water and electricity supplies, collective starvation, and large-scale killing of civilians. These are not isolated incidents, but the deliberate policy of a colonial state practicing occupation, settlement, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid—brazenly protected by Western support. Despite all this, the European Union limits itself to the idea of sending humanitarian aid to avoid opening a serious discussion on suspending the agreement, as if the delivery of food and medicine is enough to cover the political and moral shame resulting from silence. And despite the overwhelming evidence of genocide and war crimes, some influential European countries, foremost among them Germany, continue to oppose taking any decisive measures against the Israeli occupation state, invoking claims of "the right to self-defense"—a legally invalid argument for an occupying power that exercises illegitimate control over a population under occupation, which has the right to resist. This schizophrenia in the EU's stance—between the values it proclaims and the policies it practices—becomes starkly evident when comparing its position on the Russian war in Ukraine, which was met with comprehensive economic sanctions and firm stances, to its ongoing complicity in the crimes of the occupation state. This double standard not only undermines Europe's credibility globally but also dismantles the foundation of its moral and value-based project, especially in the eyes of Global South nations that see in this contradiction a reflection of colonial arrogance. On the other hand, ethical and courageous European voices have emerged, such as those of Ireland and Spain, which publicly called for the suspension of the partnership agreement and urged for positions consistent with international law. This true European moral voice must be heard and supported. In this context, European legal institutions have filed a lawsuit before the European Court of Justice against the European Commission and the EU Council, accusing them of failing to take measures to prevent genocide in Gaza. Suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement is no longer a political option but an urgent legal and moral necessity. It is not only an important political message to isolate the occupation state, but also a painful economic blow, as trade with the European Union constitutes approximately 35% of the occupation state's total foreign trade. Suspending the agreement would deprive the occupation state of customs privileges and trade preferences and limit its access to European funding and scientific research programs. The ongoing hesitation is costing the European Union its moral standing and undermining its position in a world that is being reshaped. The time has come to take a stand consistent with the principles it claims to uphold. Suspending the agreement is the minimum required if Europe is to remain a force based on values—not merely a silent observer of major crimes.