EU Commission suggests extensive penalties against Israel
The European Union (EU) has taken a significant step towards imposing sanctions on Israel, with the European Commission proposing punitive measures against the country due to its actions in the Gaza Strip. The proposed sanctions, if approved, would see Israel losing preferential access to the EU market, a move that could significantly impact the country's economy. According to EU Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas, the proposed sanctions would impose high costs on Israel. The EU Commission's proposal includes the withdrawal of trade preferences and punitive measures against extremist Israeli ministers and settlers. This move would affect 37% of Israel's exports to the EU, making it a significant source of pressure on the Israeli government. The 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 EU exports to Israel valued at 26.7 billion euros. Israel's trade with the EU accounted for around 32 percent of its total international trade in goods in 2024. The aim of these sanctions is to pressure Israel to change its course of action in the Gaza Strip, as the country is accused of violating human rights and international humanitarian law. 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. The EU Commission has also proposed new sanctions against the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, which started the Gaza conflict by carrying out a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. However, the proposal has not been met without criticism. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has called the recommendations "morally and politically distorted" and threatened that steps against Israel will be answered accordingly. Israel has argued that the proposed sanctions play into the hands of the terrorist organization. Some EU member states, including Germany, have shown reluctance or no clear support for the EU Commission's proposed trade sanctions against Israel. Germany explicitly opposes suspending the association agreement and expresses caution about the sanctions' effectiveness. It is unclear whether the Brussels initiative will have an impact, as some EU member states such as Germany and Italy may not support the proposal, and other countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria have been against harsh sanctions on Israel in the past. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas has appealed to Germany and Italy to support or propose alternatives to the planned European trade sanctions against Israel. The approval of 15 of the 27 EU countries, representing at least 65% of the EU's total population, is required for the adoption of the proposed sanctions. The EU Commission wants to sanction Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for human rights violations and incitement to hatred. Funds earmarked for Israel from an EU pot for international cooperation will be frozen, a decision already announced by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the previous week. The proposed sanctions come at a time when the EU is facing increased pressure to take a stronger stance against Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. Whether these sanctions will lead to a change in Israel's course of action remains to be seen.
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