While diplomats recognise that international attention is turning to Iran, Brussels is still keen to take a jibe at Israel over its war against Hamas.
A review by the European External Action Service (EEAS—that is, the bloc’s diplomatic corps), and launched by top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas, reportedly claims “there are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.” It cites as the basis of this claim assessments by ‘independent international institutions,’ especially on the distribution of humanitarian aid.
Four officials have since toldPolitico that while a tearing up of this association agreement would inevitably be vetoed, Brussels could cut back on trade ties with Israel—or impose similar such ‘interim measures’—without the backing of all bloc members.
Senior EU figures called for a review of the EU-Israel agreement last month, while Spain’s Socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez said it should be suspended altogether.
Israel’s foreign ministry has written to the EEAS in a scathing letter accusing European officials of disregarding “our detailed response to the questions submitted to us” and of carrying out a “rush job.”
Israel also bashed the review process as “outrageous and indecent,” adding:
This report and its conclusions should not be taken seriously or used as a basis for any future actions or conversations. Decency would dictate addressing the report’s shortcomings and dismissing it in its entirety.
Kallas will report the ‘findings’ to EU foreign ministers at a meeting later today, on June 23rd. There should be news afterwards on whether the bloc will take action against Israel.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
