Diplomatic Relations Between the EU and Israel Become Strained

Translated by Beatrice Cherubini

The military operation launched in recent days in Gaza, named “Gideon's Chariots”, which is expected to culminate in a permanent occupation of the Gaza Strip, appears to have been the final straw in the already strained relationship between the EU and the State of Israel[1].

The countless episodes of violence, including an eleven-week blockade of humanitarian aid bound for Gaza imposed by the Netanyahu-led government, no longer seem tolerable even in the eyes of Israel’s long-standing international partners. It is precisely in the face of growing horror and frustration that European institutions have come to realize that the only viable path to ending this spiral of violence lies in the adoption of sanctions against Israel. 

According to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, a significant number of European countries — seventeen, to be precise — have expressed support for reviewing Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which states that relations between the two parties must be based on respect for human rights.

The agreement in question, which was signed in 1995 and came into force in 2000, plays a central role in relations between Brussels and Tel Aviv — both politically and, even more so, in terms of economic cooperation — opening the door to bilateral trade worth approximately €36 billion per year, made possible by highly favorable tariffs for access to European markets[2].

A path that appears rather tortuous, yet follows the intention of the former High Representative Josep Borrell, who was the first to openly consider moving forward on this front, fully aware of the difficulties it could entail, as evidenced by the resistance of some countries, steadfast allies of Israel, such as Hungary[3].

The implications are routinely evident in any kind of debate within European institutions, especially concerning the adoption of sanctions — for instance, against Israeli settlers responsible for violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank — which are consistently blocked due to Budapest’s repeated use of its veto. However, recently these initiatives seem to be supported by a growing majority, which has expressed willingness to extend such measures to prominent figures within the Israeli government as well.

It is clear that the European approach has shifted in recent weeks, starting with a change in stance by the Netherlands itself — a country historically very close to Tel Aviv — and its foreign minister, Caspar Veldkamp, who has effectively altered the dynamics within the European Council.

At the same time, another extremely serious event in recent days has further strained relations between the parties, as shown by the violent episode that occurred during the visit of a diplomatic delegation — which also included a substantial European group — to Jenin, in the West Bank. The mission was in fact targeted by gunfire from a contingent of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stationed in the area.

Fortunately, the incident did not result in any injuries but was fully interpreted as an act of intimidation, to the point of prompting some of the countries involved in the mission to summon the Israeli ambassadors stationed in their respective capitals[4].

It is therefore clear that relations between the EU and Israel are progressively deteriorating, similarly to what is happening with other countries — such as the United Kingdom — that are no longer willing to justify acts of violence against the Palestinian people.

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