The European Commission has formally presented its proposal for sanctions targeting trade with ‘Israel’ and the European Union’s (EU) association agreement with it, the EU’s executive body announced on Wednesday.
The sanctions, if approved, would strip Israeli imports of their preferential access to the EU. Israeli goods would have duties slapped on them. The Commission also called for suspending “bilateral support” to Israel.
The move marks a dramatic escalation of the EU’s response to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, as Israeli forces are ferociously bombarding Gaza City and advancing deep into its neighborhoods.
“Actions taken by the Israeli government represent a breach of essential elements relating to respect for human rights and democratic principles,” a Commission review found. “This entitles the EU to suspend the Agreement unilaterally.”
“Specifically, this breach refers to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza following the military intervention of Israel, the blockade of humanitarian aid, the intensifying of military operations and the decision of the Israeli authorities to advance the settlement plan in the so-called E1 area of the West Bank, which further undermines the two-state solution,” the Commission said.
“The horrific events taking place in Gaza on a daily basis must stop. There needs to be an immediate ceasefire, unrestrained access for all humanitarian aid,” Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.
Israeli FM threatens EU with ‘retaliation’ over possible sanctionshttps://t.co/56FGDsGQag
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Trade between ‘Israel’ and the EU (Israel’s largest trading partner) reached €42.6 billion in 2024, including €15.9 billion in Israeli imports. The EU accounted for nearly a third of Israel’s total international trade in goods last year.
If adopted, the EU would also suspend its annual €6 million in financial support to Israel and €14 million in annual support for projects supporting Israel in the context of the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreements between ‘Israel’ and several Arab countries.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar on Wednesday condemned the proposed EU measures against Israel as “morally and politically distorted,” and threatened a strong response if such measures were adopted.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)