Latest news with #EUIsraelRelations
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Spain calls for immediate suspension of EU-Israel relations 'over human rights violations'
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Monday called for the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement after a report said there were indications Israel was in breach of human rights rules. The report, which could imperil EU-Israel relations, was being studied by the bloc's foreign ministers, though diplomats expect no proposals for concrete action until next month. Spain and Ireland, two countries that first called for a review of relations with Israel a year and a half ago, have said they want a full suspension of relations. 'Today is just the day to acknowledge what we all knew many months ago. There are violations of human rights,' Mr Albares said. 'If the association agreement is based on human rights, it's the most normal thing that we suspend immediately, today, this association agreement.' He also called for an embargo on EU countries selling weapons to Israel and for the widening of individual sanctions on anyone undermining the proposed two-state solution. Spain has already cancelled arms deals with Israel. The consequences are about trying to change behaviour, trying to use every lever at our disposal to end the genocidal activity that we're seeing in Gaza Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris According to the review by the EU's diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service (EEAS), 'there are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement'. The report pointed to Israel's blockade of aid in Gaza, the high number of casualties and attacks on medical facilities. Its sources include the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Court of Justice. The death toll in Gaza is close to 56,000 after 20 months of Israeli military action. In recent weeks, hundreds have been killed near aid distribution sites run by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The suspension of ties would require a unanimous decision, which would probably be impossible to obtain given that countries such as Austria, Germany and Hungary tend to back Israel. Most EU countries reject the idea of breaking off contact with Israel, including the Netherlands – the state which led the most recent call for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in March after Israel breached a ceasefire in Gaza. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he was against suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement. 'Our position is different from that of Spain,' Mr Tajani said, adding that it was important to keep relations open with Israel because it had been of use in the evacuation of some civilians out of Gaza. His Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, said he 'personally' supports a full suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement, but recognised 'there would not be consensus for that. That would require unanimity.' 'The consequences aren't about punishment,' Mr Harris said, in response to a question from The National. 'The consequences are about trying to change behaviour, trying to use every lever at our disposal to end the genocidal activity that we're seeing in Gaza.' EU ministers will meet again in July, which is when they are expected to discuss 'potential options in reaction to the conclusions of the review', an EU diplomat said before the meeting. The EU has repeatedly called for Israel to allow unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza, to little avail. 'It will not be consensual, but we hope that a big group of member states can subscribe to the conclusion of the review,' the diplomat said. The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which gives Israeli goods preferential access to the EU market, is rooted in respect for human rights by both parties. A third of Israel's imports come from the EU, valued at $27 billion annually, while Europe imports less than 1 per cent of its goods from Israel, according to the EU Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security. A review was requested in March by the Netherlands and supported by 17 out of 27 EU states. Those who opposed it included Germany. 'When all the focus is on Iran and the escalation regarding Iran, we should not forget about Gaza,' said the Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, who led the charge for the review. While a unanimous vote would be needed to suspend the EU-Israel agreement entirely, a partial suspension is possible with a simple majority vote. Diplomats have declined to speculate on that possibility due to the sensitivity of the topic, and have said they will wait for the EEAS's recommendations. The EEAS delivered the eight-page report to states on Friday. Some countries complained that they were not given enough time to study it before Monday's meeting of foreign ministers. A senior EEAS official dismissed that, saying: 'Sometimes it takes [a] long [time], sometimes it takes [a] shorter [time]. That is also how it works when you have difficult documents and make sure also that the right assessment is being made again.' Israel has criticised the report's conclusions. 'This report and its conclusions should not be taken seriously or used as a basis for any future actions or conversations,' Israel said in a letter to the EU Commission and the EEAS, according to Euronews. 'Decency would dictate addressing the report's shortcomings and dismissing it in its entirety,' it said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Italy against Suspending EU-Israel Accord, Foreign Minister Says
Italy is against a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement over alleged human rights violations in Gaza, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday. "Our position is different from that of Spain," Tajani said on the sidelines of a meeting with EU colleagues in Brussels, referring to Spain's support for a suspension of the deal. Tajani said it was important to keep relations open with Israel, saying that this had facilitated the evacuation of some civilians out of Gaza.
Bloomberg
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
EU Finds Israel May Have Broken Human Rights Terms in Accord
A report commissioned by the European Union found that Israel may have broken the humanitarian terms of the accord that dictates their bilateral relations. The report will be presented to the bloc's foreign affairs ministers on Monday and could lead to the suspension of all or parts of the EU Israel Association Agreement, which governs their trade relations.
BreakingNews.ie
20-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach and Tánaiste welcome EU decision to review trade agreements with Israel
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have welcomed the EU's decision to review its trade arrangements with Israel. The EU has said it is reviewing its association agreement with Israel, which governs its political and economic relationship. Advertisement Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, said a majority of members favoured looking again at the 25-year-old agreement. The agreement forms the basis of trade ties between the EU and Israel. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said in a statement that Ireland will work to ensure the review is taken forward as quickly as possible, and that Israel 'cannot act with impunity against all international humanitarian laws and norms'. Tánaiste Simon Harris said that the situation in the enclave has become immeasurably worse since Ireland first called for this review alongside Spain in February 2024. Advertisement "The decision to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement to examine compliance with human rights announced today by High Representative Kaja Kallas is one I strongly welcome. Together with Spain, Ireland first called for this step to be taken in February 2024," the Taoiseach said. " Since then, many thousands of Palestinians have been killed and maimed in a brutal military operation, the brunt of which has been borne by an innocent civilian population. "Thousands more are at the brink of starvation, with the UN warning that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if aid doesn't reach them. "Israel must know that the world is watching and that we will not stand by ," Mr Martin said. He added that "Ireland will work to ensure that the review is taken forward as quickly as possible, and that its conclusions are acted upon. " We must stop this war. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid."
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Growing call from EU states to review EU trade deal with Israel
A proposal to review the European Union 's trade agreement with Israel in light of its blockade stopping humanitarian aid getting into Gaza is believed to have the support of up to 10 EU states. France, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and several other EU states support the EU reviewing its relationship with Israel, in response to growing concerns about the worsening conditions in Gaza. Humanitarian organisations and aid agencies have warned of the dire consequences of what has been a near three-month blockade, where Israel has prevented food and other supplies getting into the Gaza Strip, sparking fears of a possible famine. For weeks aid agencies have been warning that the enclave of more than two million Palestinians is on the verge of having food, fuel and medical supplies run out. READ MORE The blocking of vital supplies getting into Gaza, which Taoiseach Micheál Martin said amounted to a war crime , has seen renewed impetus within the EU to exert political pressure on Israel. Foreign ministers from the 27 EU states are expected to discuss ordering a review into the EU's agreement that governs the bloc's relations with Israel, known as the 'association agreement'. It is understood about 10 of the 27 national capitals have indicated their support for a review, to determine if Israel has breached a clause in the agreement to uphold human rights. The governments of Ireland and Spain first called for a review of the EU's trade agreement with Israel in February 2024. At the time the proposal gained little traction. In a letter earlier this month, Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp retabled the proposal to review the EU-Israel deal, given the aid blockade was 'exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation' in Gaza. It is understood Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief who chairs the meeting, will gauge support for the proposal when ministers meet in Brussels on Tuesday. Dutch diplomats have been attempting to convince other EU states to support the proposal. Officials hope if a majority of states – at least 14 of the 27 – back the call for a review, the European Commission will be pressured to act. The commission, the EU's executive arm that proposes laws and sets trade policy, has to date resisted calls to review the association agreement. Some around the table are expected to continue to row in behind Israel. Germany, Austria, Hungary and Czechia have been the most vocal supporters of Israel within the EU. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed during the bombardment and invasion of Gaza by Israel's military, according to Hamas-run health authorities. The Israeli assault followed the October 7th, 2023 attacks by Hamas militants which killed 1,200 people, according to Israelis tallies. Under growing international pressure, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu said this week a basic amount of aid would be allowed into Gaza.
