The European Union will review its trade and cooperation with Israel to attack against Gaza
propagandathe European Union The wide trade and cooperation agreement with Israel Because of your extension An attack in Gaza And your inability to raise Help prohibit nearly three months.
The decision was taken on Tuesday after 17 of 27 Foreign ministers in the bloc They will support the scaleAt the beginning of the month, the Dutch Foreign Minister, Caspar Veldkamp.
This means that the European Union CEO will now start a review to determine whether it is Israel was raped Its obligations related to human rights under Article 2 of the European Union Association for Israel, a broad agreement that defines trade and diplomatic relations between the two parties.
Today’s discussions are clearly followed that there is a strong majority in favor A review of Article 2 of the Associations Agreement with Israel“The representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Calas, told the press in Brussels.” We will launch this review, and at the same time, this depends on Israel to free more humanitarian aid. “
Article 2 And it proves that the relations “will be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which direct its internal and international policy and constitute an essential element in this agreement.” The European Union is the largest commercial partner in Israel, and the value of the commercial relationship is estimated at more than 45,000 million euros annually.
Ireland and Spain raised for the first time the possibility of reopening the association’s agreement in a letter that is still without a response to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Lin, 15 months ago, but they have not received fixed support from any other country from the European Union.
But the initiative has accused a new motivation in recent weeks when HollandIt is considered a strong ally of Israel, which announced that “human blockage” of Israel in Gaza, where a limited amount of critical supplies was introduced on Monday for the first time “Violation of international humanitarian law” Thus, from Article 2.
Nine member states –Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and SwedenThey publicly supported the Netherlands’ proposal before the Foreign Affairs meeting on Tuesday.
It also supported Austria, Denmark, Slovakia, Estonia, Malta, Poland and Romania on Tuesday, according to diplomatic sources. Bulgaria, Croatia, Shibri, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Lithuania were againstWhile Latvia was “neutral”, according to the same sources.
Another proposal to increase pressure on Israel by submitting it New sanctions on Israeli settlers Responsibility for violence in the West Bank was supported by 26 member states 27, but it was banned by Hungary. Swedish Secretary of State Maria Malmer Stegard has suggested that she would go further and “strengthen European Union sanctions against Israeli ministers.”
Previously, on Tuesday, The United Kingdom suspended commercial talks The Israeli ambassador summoned what he described as an “unbearable” attack in Gaza. This happened after leaders The United Kingdom, France and Canada are threatened with “concrete actions” if Israel does not stop its campaign The assistance restrictions were raised.
European Union position before The war between Israel and Hamas in GazaWhich caused Hamas attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, was always depth. The former European Union representative, Josep Borrell, grew up in November Husing relations with IsraelAnd, which finally led to an invitation to a closed meeting between the Israeli Foreign Minister and his European Union counterparts.
At that meeting, headed by Khalifa Borrell, Kaja Callaswith SilenceFull calls to review Article 2Since then in Gaza, the fire has been in effect. It seems that the eleven week lock at the entrance to assistance may change the mentality between 27.
Kaja Callas Higher diplomat said that although Israel’s decision to allow a limited number of trucks to enter the pocket was “welcome”. “A drop in the ocean”. “Aid must arrive immediately,” Callas said.
Concormación additional by Jorge Liporro
