EU members reject proposal to suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement

Ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, the three states renewed calls for the EU to take action against Israel.

EU members have rejected a proposal from Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement over alleged war crimes in Palestine and Lebanon.

Ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, the three states renewed calls for the EU to take action against Israel saying, “in such a grave situation, we call on the European Union to uphold its moral and political responsibility".

In a letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the governments described the recent law in the Knesset, which applies the death penalty exclusively to Palestinians convicted of murder but not Jewish Israelis, as “ a grave violation of fundamental human rights”, and a violation of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

They also referred to the dire conditions in Gaza because of continuing Israeli blockade, as well as ongoing settler violence in the West Bank which is allowed to occur “with impunity".

“Conditions in Gaza are unbearable, marked by continuous violations of the ceasefire agreement and the clearly insufficient entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip,” the letter states.

“The situation in the West Bank is rapidly deteriorating, with escalating violence against Palestinians,” it says.

But larger member states, Germany and Italy, refused to support the measures effectively blocking them from reaching the threshold required.

A partial suspension of the agreement requires 55% of member states representing 65% of the EU population to pass. 

So, at all times, it needs the endorsement from either Germany or Italy for any suspension to move ahead.

A full suspension required unanimous support, which did not exist.

Ms Kallas said more needed to be done to help the Palestinians but that there was no shift in the position of members.

"Given that the suspension of the association agreement needs unanimity, there was no support for this in the room, and the measures that we have already on the table that require qualified majority will require states shifting their position.

"We didn't see that today, but these discussions will continue."

German foreign minister Johann Wadephul told reporters Germany was critical of Israeli policy in the West Bank and elsewhere, but it would be “inappropriate” to sanction the Jewish state.

"We continue to insist that a two-state solution must be possible. But these must be done through critical, constructive dialogue with Israel,” he said.

Meanwhile, minister for foreign affairs, Helen McEntee, said Ireland and others such as Belgium and Luxembourg which supported the proposals are “very clear that we need to as the EU uphold our fundamental values and laws.” 

She said the EU needed to make it clear to countries such as Israel that they are obliged to uphold the human rights clauses in their agreements.

McEntee said it was therefore necessary to respond to Israel’s alleged breaches of international law.

“Since our last meeting Israel has enacted a new law which introduces the death penalty which specifically targets Palestinians people,” she said.

“We are witnessing and experiencing an unprecedented and an unacceptable escalation of violence in the West Bank.

“There are 34 new Israeli settlements agreed to in recent weeks, and a clear determination to separate the West Bank,” said the minister.

She claimed there has been “a shift by EU leaders of dissatisfaction with Israel” and hoped it would be enough to exert pressure on those governments to agree to the measures.