The EU’s top diplomat proposes suspending political dialogue with Israel

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell has proposed that EU member states suspend political dialogue with Israel over the war in the Gaza Strip, an EU diplomatic source told DPA on Wednesday.

Borrell bases his proposal on assessments by independent international bodies that allege Israel has violated human rights and international humanitarian law on Palestinian territory.

The initiative, which was put forward at a meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday, will now be discussed at a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.

Political dialogue with Israel is governed by the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2000.

The agreement provides for regular exchanges to strengthen the partnership. It also states that relations between the parties are based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.