The commission's initiative means that two applications will go to the EU Council. The first will concern the suspension of the commercial part of the association agreement with Israel, which is to deprive the country of privileged access to the EU market. The EU is Israel's largest trading partner who exports EUR 17 billion to the EU annually to the EU.
The suspension of the contract would mean the restoration of duties to 37 percent. goods imported from Israel to the EU and would cost Israeli exporters 227 million euros per year. For this to happen, 15 countries constituting 65 percent must agree. EU population (so -called qualified majority).
Continued article under video material
Sanctions are to cover Israeli ministers
The second application will include a list of people who are to be banned from entering the EU and freezing of assets. It will contain two members of the Binjamin Netanyahu government: Minister of Finance Becalel Smotricz and Minister of Security ITAMAR BEN GWiR. The EC will also propose sanctions on Jewish settlers and members of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Their imposition requires the unanimous consent of the EU countries.
Sanctions were announced a week ago by the chairwoman of the EC Ursula von der Leyen in the annual EU state. The leader emphasized at the time that she was aware that it will be difficult to find the majority among EU capitals for this solution, but the Union must take responsibility.
