Break the political dialogue with Israel and prohibit the import of products from illegal settlements. These are the proposals that, more than a year and nearly 44,000 deaths in Gaza later, will put Josep Borrell on the table of the 27 Foreign Ministers this Monday, in what is called to be their last Council with the baton of European diplomacy. The measure, however, has little or no sign of succeeding due to the fierce resistance of Israel’s European allies, such as Germany, Hungary or Austria.
In a letter sent to European countries on Wednesday, Borrell outlines the long list of human rights violations and the International Law that the Jewish State has committed in the Strip, in the West Bank or in neighboring countries such as Lebanon. The High Representative refers to the disproportionate loss of civilians, the blockage of humanitarian aid, settler violence in West Bank or the lack of independent investigations or accountability. “In other situations where international standards have been systematically violated we have implemented sanctions ranging from visa restrictions to import restrictions. So far Israel has not suffered any consequences. And this has to change“, concludes Borrell in the latest publication of his blog.
For this reason, it now asks the 27 member states to suspend political dialogue with Israel, a precept included in the bilateral Association Agreement and which Borrell defends alleging that Tel Aviv is failing to comply with the clause that requires all parties to respect human rights. The movement, if it occurred, would not have a great impact on the ranks of Benjamin Netanyahu. Where Europeans can flex their muscles and put pressure on Israel the most is in the economic sphere, since the EU is the Israelis’ main trading partner. But Borrell’s proposal is clear: “This step has no financial consequences”.
“By suspending the dialogue, will we change reality? No. Will we inflict damage on Israel? No. We will only send the message, a clear signal. Actions must have consequences and there are none. And this, furthermore, would be a marginal consequence,” analyzes a high European source.
However, the measure requires unanimity. And in the EU, deeply divided over the conflict in the Middle East, there is none. With the genocide in Gaza Strip underway, the consensus of the Europeans at the moment is to hold a bilateral Association Council to talk with the Israelis. The Hebrew Executive has shown itself open to organizing this event during the Hungarian Presidency of the Council, led by its ally Orbán. However, there are five weeks left until the end and there is no indication that the meeting will be held.
some like Netherlands They believe that it is not the time to break off dialogue with Israel because the mere debate around it will further divide the 27 member states. Spain and Ireland are favorable, but another group led by Germany is against. The German delegation defends itself by stating that, although it is true that the violation of human rights is increasingly unsustainable, it would be counterproductive to take this step because it would further complicate communications with Israel. In Berlin they believe that it would be more difficult to dissuade Netanyahu or transfer your messages. Although the truth is that in Tel Aviv, to date, they have completely ignored any demand or request from Europeans.
Borrell’s movement comes nine months after Spain and Ireland sent a letter to the European Commission “urgently” requesting the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement based on Israel’s human rights violations in Palestine. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyena faithful defender of Israel, immediately put it in the drawer. Borrell now takes the controls in what will be his last opportunity, since if the established schedule is met, the new European Commission will begin filming on December 1.
Therefore, the chosen time generates confusion. Some delegations define this latest Borrell bullet as “a farewell gift” to the PSOE, which has been one of the most vocal EU governments against the genocide committed by Netanyahu’s Executive. The head of European diplomacy thus puts the finishing touch to a mandate in which he has progressively raised the tone with the Israelis. He even unsuccessfully asked for sanctions against extremist ministers who encouraged genocide in Gaza. “We have to recognize that the position we have maintained with the Israeli Government over the last year has failed,” he assumes.
However, the initiative is born mortally wounded. There is little reason to think that her replacement, the Estonian Kaja Kallasgo to inherit this same line on such a divisive issue. Furthermore, his obsession is Russia. It also plays against the global context. The new Trump Administrationwhich starts next January 20, will close ranks with the ultranationalist Netanyahu. The new American ambassador to Israel has already opened the door to supporting the Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
It is true that in the EU we are moving – although very slowly – towards the position that something needs to be done. The sentences of the International Court of Justicethe ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza or the suffocation of UNRWA are events to which Europeans find it increasingly difficult to close their eyes. “The world order based on norms and international law is already in the ICU since Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. After Gaza, it hangs by a thread,” warns Borrell.
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