On Sunday, April 19, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on the European Union to terminate the association agreement with Israel. He announced that Madrid would present such a proposal during Tuesday's meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
Sharpening his criticism of Israel, he said at a rally in Andalusia that “a government that breaks international law or the principles on which the European Union is based cannot be its partner.”
Sanchez brings to Brussels a topic that many would rather not touch even with a stick. The question is who will hide behind the procedures first.
Sanchez has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Israel among European Union countries. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, and called the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran a “huge mistake.”
Critics of Israel's actions emphasize that the continuation of airstrikes and military operations on Lebanese territory seriously weakens the prospects for reaching a lasting peace agreement not only between the parties directly involved, but also in the entire unstable Middle East region. In their opinion, the escalation of violence increases political tensions, complicates diplomatic talks and threatens to draw other countries into a broader conflict.
Prime Minister of Spain Pedro SanchezAndres Martinez Casares / PAP
During his speech in Andalusia, Pedro Sanchez called for an immediate end to the war in the Middle East, pointing to its increasingly serious humanitarian and economic consequences. He noted that the prolonged fighting has already led to a sharp increase in oil prices on world markets, which is affecting the cost of living in many countries, and has also caused mass displacement of civilians, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and seek refuge in safer places.
Growing pressure on Israel
The foreign ministers of Spain, Ireland and Slovenia jointly expressed sharp criticism of Israel, accusing it of violating the provisions of the Association Agreement concluded with the European Union.
In a letter addressed to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaia Kallas, on Saturday, they called for the matter to be urgently addressed at the EU forum and for an assessment of whether Israel continues to fulfill its obligations arising from cooperation with the EU.
Kaja Kallas, head of EU diplomacyOLIVIER MATTHYS / PAP
The signatories of the letter emphasized that they were particularly concerned about the recent decisions of the Israeli Parliament regarding the approval of the death penalty, which, in their opinion, is contrary to European standards of human rights protection and the fundamental values on which the European Union is based. They also drew attention to the brutal actions of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, pointing to cases of violence against the Palestinian civilian population, destruction of property and intimidation of residents.
According to the ministers, such actions constitute a gross violation of fundamental human rights and undermine the trust necessary to maintain partnership relations between Israel and the European Union. In their opinion, further ignoring these issues could weaken the credibility of the EU as a community that declares the defense of international law and human rights.
The article continues below the video
Will the plan get stuck in the Council?
Madrid's proposal to end the association agreement rather however, there is no chance of quick successbecause it requires the unanimous consent of all 27 Member States of the European Union.
The idea will most likely be opposed by the group of countries centered around Germany, which has consistently voted against harsher actions against Israel. The European Commission's proposal presented in September, imposing sanctions on some Israeli ministers and suspending the trade parts of the Association Agreement, did not obtain a majority in the European Council.
The Israeli Embassy to the European Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
