European Commission Advocates Comprehensive Penalties Against Israel
The European Union (EU) has announced plans to impose sanctions on Israel, in response to ongoing concerns over human rights violations and international law breaches in the Gaza Strip. The proposed measures, which require the approval of at least 15 out of 27 EU member states, representing 65% of the total EU population, aim to pressure Israel to alter its course of action in the region.
The proposed sanctions include the withdrawal of trade preferences for Israel, which would mean that imports from Israel would lose their preferential access to the EU market and be subject to tariffs at the same level as those applied to countries without a free trade agreement. This move would significantly impact Israel, as the EU is its most important trading partner, accounting for around 37% of its exports to the EU. In 2024, the total trade volume in goods between the EU and Israel 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.
Not all EU countries support these sanctions, however. Germany and Italy have publicly declared their lack of support for the EU Commission's proposed trade sanctions against Israel, while other major EU countries and many smaller ones back the measures. The German government, in particular, has been instrumental in preventing the suspension of cooperation within the Horizon Europe program, arguing that the measure is not targeted enough.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has described the recommendations as "morally and politically distorted" and expressed hope they will not be accepted. Israel had already criticized the EU Commission's proposal to suspend parts of the cooperation within the research funding program Horizon Europe in July, but this measure has been prevented so far.
The EU Commission also proposes new sanctions against the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, which triggered the Gaza war by carrying out a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The EU Foreign Affairs Representative, Kaja Kallas, has appealed to Germany and Italy for support in implementing trade sanctions against Israel, or proposing alternative means of pressure.
The aim of these sanctions is to pressure Israel to change its course of action in the Gaza Strip, as the commission believes Israel is violating human rights and international law. 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. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stated that immediate ceasefire, unhindered access for humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages held by Hamas are needed.
However, without the approval of Rome or Berlin, it is currently not foreseeable that this qualified majority will be achieved, as some smaller countries like Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria have been against harsh sanctions against Israel. The German government has not yet formed a final opinion on the sanctions plans. Israel was forced into the Gaza war after a Hamas terrorist attack, and it believes the EU Commission is relying on information from Hamas and playing into the hands of the terrorist organization.
These developments mark a significant shift in EU-Israel relations, and the outcome remains uncertain. The EU Commission has halted payments from an EU pot for international cooperation that was earmarked for Israel, and the Israeli government is closely monitoring the situation to determine its next steps.
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