EU Commission introduces extensive punitive measures against Israel
The European Union (EU) has proposed trade sanctions against Israel in response to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The EU Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, has called for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, as well as the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
The proposed sanctions aim to pressure Israel to change its course of action, with the commission believing that Israel's military offensive and the resulting humanitarian crisis violate human rights and international humanitarian law. The EU Commission has accused Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of human rights violations and incitement to hatred, and has proposed sanctions against them.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, has appealed to Germany and Italy to support these plans or propose alternative measures. However, the German government has so far prevented the EU Commission's proposal to suspend parts of the cooperation within the Horizon Europe research funding program, which Israel had already expressed sharp criticism over.
The EU Commission's proposal for new sanctions against Hamas, in response to its initiation of the Gaza war by carrying out a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting more than 250 others, is also part of the EU's response.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has dismissed the recommendations as 'morally and politically distorted' and expressed hope that they would not be adopted. So far, no EU member states have publicly announced support for the EU Commission's proposed trade sanctions against Israel, with Germany and Italy expressing opposition, and other large and smaller EU countries not explicitly confirming support.
The EU's total trade volume in goods between the EU and Israel in 2024 was 42.6 billion euros, with EU imports from Israel valued at 15.9 billion euros and exports to Israel valued at 26.7 billion euros. Israel's trade with the EU accounted for around 32% of its total international trade in goods. If the proposed sanctions are imposed, they would affect 37 percent of Israel's exports to the EU, making the EU Israel's most important trading partner.
The proposed sanctions include stripping Israel of its trade privileges and imposing penalties on extremist Israeli ministers and settlers. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič stated that Israeli imports would lose their preferential access to the EU market and would face tariffs at the same level as those applied to other countries without a free trade agreement with the EU.
It remains uncertain whether the Brussels initiative will have any effect, as a qualified majority of 15 out of 27 EU countries, representing at least 65 percent of the EU's total population, is required for the adoption of the sanctions. The EU Council President, António Costa, has stated that Europe cannot accept the measures taken by the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank, which go far beyond Israel's legitimate right to self-defense.
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