Politico: EU rejects proposal to suspend association agreement with Israel

Most European Union member states have rejected an initiative by Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia to suspend the EU’s association agreement with Israel, according to Politico.

The proposing countries called for the suspension of the agreement over alleged human rights violations by Israel.

They accuse Israel of committing war crimes during conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians and the introduction of the death penalty for them.

During the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on April 21, Germany and Italy played a key role in blocking the proposal.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the idea as inappropriate, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said there were neither the political nor numerical conditions to support such a step, instead suggesting limited measures such as sanctions against radical settlers.

The EU–Israel Association Agreement has been in force since 2000.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov