EU ministers discuss suspending dialogue with Israel – DW – 18-11-2024

European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday will discuss how to pause the bloc’s diplomatic dialogue with Israel, as proposed by foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Before the meeting, Borrell said such a move would aim to put pressure on the Israeli government after it ignored several pleas to adhere to international law in the war in the Gaza Strip.

“Many people tried to stop the war in Gaza… this has not happened yet. And I don’t see any hope of that happening. That is why we must put pressure on the Israeli government, and of course also on the Hamas side,” Borrell told journalists ahead of the talks.

It is widely believed that the proposal, which is seen as Borrell’s farewell before he leaves office, is unlikely to be accepted by ministers, who should be unanimous in their decision.

Resistance to proposal

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp has already said he disagrees with the proposal and said the EU should remain in dialogue with Israel amid wider tensions in the Middle East.

Germany has also already resisted, while Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic have so far clearly sided with Israel.

The EU’s political dialogue with Israel is governed by the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides for regular exchanges to strengthen the partnership.

However, it also states that relations between the parties are based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which Borrell has said may not have been respected by Israel.

Spain and Ireland have also proposed revising the agreement with Israel.

But EU diplomats have stressed that suspending institutional political dialogue does not mean suspending the agreement or the Association Council, which is responsible for relations between the two sides.

Proposed import ban

Borrell also wants to introduce a ban on the import of products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The settlements are illegal under international law.

The agenda for Monday’s meeting is also expected to include the approval of new sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.

Borrell also said ahead of the meeting that he hoped EU members would agree to allow Kiev to attack inside Russia with the weapons the bloc has supplied.

“I have said again and again that Ukraine must be able to use the weapons we have provided to them, not only to stop the arrows, but also to be able to hit the archers,” Borrell said.

His comment comes amid reports that US President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles to push deeper into Russia, in a possible response to Moscow’s deployment of thousands of North Korean troops in the war against its neighboring country.

tj/lo (Reuters, dpa)