Baerbock speaks out against suspending dialogue with Israel

The European Union will not suspend regular political dialogue with Israel for the time being – despite serious allegations regarding Israel’s conduct of the war in the Gaza Strip. At a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, several countries signaled that they did not want to agree to a corresponding proposal from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Because it would have to be decided unanimously, it cannot be implemented until further notice.

According to diplomats, the politicians who did not support Borrell’s initiative at the meeting included Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) and colleagues from countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Netherlands. However, Baerbock expressed his openness to taking targeted action against Israeli government members who question the right to exist of Palestinians or international law. Borrell recently presented a proposal for punitive measures against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Borrell submitted the proposal to suspend regular political dialogue with Israel to the member states last week. He bases his decision on analyzes according to which Israel is violating human rights and international humanitarian law in its actions against Hamas and other terrorist organizations.

EU officials say the move is not about breaking off all contacts, but about freezing political dialogue, which is part of a so-called association agreement from 2000. This provides, among other things, for regular exchanges to strengthen relationships and further develop the partnership. Suspending the dialogue would be primarily a symbolic step.