Division within the European Union over the suspension of a treaty with Israel

European countries, including Spain and Ireland, called on Tuesday for the suspension of a treaty regulating the European Union’s relations with Israel, but the Union remained divided over taking action.

Upon their arrival to participate in the meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg, a number of ministers called for the complete or partial suspension of the treaty due to concerns about settlements in the West Bank, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and a new law related to the death penalty.

“Europe’s credibility is at stake today,” Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez told reporters, calling for discussion of suspending the association treaty that entered into force in 2000.

However, diplomats do not expect a decision to be made at the meeting, as countries’ positions remain divergent on whether and how to change EU policies toward Israel.

Germany calls for dialogue
The European Commission in September proposed suspending some trade-related provisions in the Association Treaty, a measure affecting Israeli exports worth around 5.8 billion euros. Israel said at the time that the proposals were “morally and politically distorted.”

Suspending the trade part of the treaty requires a qualified majority among European Union governments, that is, the support of 15 out of 27 European Union member states, representing 65 percent of the Union’s population. Complete suspension of the Association Treaty requires a unanimous decision by all Member States.

So far, the European Commission’s proposal has not received sufficient support to exceed this minimum. Officials are monitoring, in particular, the positions of Berlin and Rome, but Germany and Italy indicated on Tuesday that they are sticking to their current positions.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadewohl told reporters, “We expressed our criticism regarding the application of the death penalty, and we warned in advance against taking this step. We also have a very clear position on settler violence.”

He added that Berlin remains committed to creating the appropriate conditions for a two-state solution with the Palestinians, “but this must be done through a critical and constructive dialogue with Israel.”

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Taiani said
The ministers will not take any decisions today, Tuesday, because “the circumstances are not favorable, neither in terms of the number of participants nor politically.”

Tayani added, “I do not think that suspending the commercial aspect of the agreement is a feasible means, as this will ultimately have a negative impact on the population of Israel, who often have nothing to do with the actions committed by the army.”

Business partner
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said before the meeting that “there are no indications of a majority in favor of taking any action on the Association Treaty,” also referring to the current ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

Ministers from countries including Ireland and Belgium urged a change in EU policy.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said that his country calls for at least a partial suspension of the Association Treaty, but he added that Belgium “realizes that a complete suspension may be far-fetched given the positions of the various European countries.”