Brussels Gives up the Pretence on Supporting Israel—But MEPs Still Want It to Go Further

However much the European Union abandons Israel, political activists are always hungry for more.

And so Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement of plans to freeze all EU payments to Israel, as well as to sanction so-called “extremist” Israeli ministers and curb trade ties, has pleased no one.

Israel has already condemned Brussels’ threats as “regrettable,” saying they “echo the false propaganda of Hamas and its partners,” as per our previous report.

Israeli journalist Hananya Naftali, who has worked alongside Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, also scolded Europe for turning “its back on the only democracy in the Middle East,” adding:

This isn’t about peace. It’s about punishing Jews for defending themselves.

But the Left group in the European Parliament quickly complained that VDL had only announced “partial measures,” despite the fact “Israel is committing genocide.”

It added that Wednesday’s State of the Union address came after EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas “indicated that Europe will not do anything to stop the horrors in Gaza,” by saying “we cannot move as a Union until member states share the same view on what to do.” But it emerged today that the Commission is actually willing to act independently to bypass the need for majority approval.

Ireland, which was one of the first European nations to recognise a state of Palestine, has also called for “clarity” regarding these new measures, revealing a hint of disapproval. Tánaiste (or, Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris said the people of Ireland “have had enough of words of condemnation” and want to see “concrete actions.” That’s despite Taoiseach (or, Prime Minister) Micheál Martin welcoming the Commission’s proposals.

By contrast, Danish MEP Anders Vistisen accused different groups of “pandering to Muslim voters instead of standing firm on our values and our allies.”