Archiv: EU-Israel Association Agreement

26.05.2025 - 18:16 [ Communist Party of Israel ]

‘Stop Arming Israel’: Israeli Citizens Demonstrations in 12 European Cities, Meeting in Paris

“No business as usual with Israel”, demonstrations by Israeli citizens across Europe will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 27, in 12 major cities to demand: “Suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement! Stop Arming Israel!”

According to the initiative, “As Israeli citizens living in Europe, we are watching with broken hearts and endless rage as the Israeli army is exacting unprecedented destruction on the Gaza Strip and its people, as the Israeli society is deteriorating into fascism and widespread dehumanization, and as our government is committing a genocide aimed at the destruction of Palestinian collectivity.”

(…)

In addition, from June 12 to 14, 2025, Paris will host an exceptional gathering, held under the patronage and in the presence of the French President Emmanuel Macron. The initiative was started by The Alliance for Two States headed by Palestinian Samer Sinijlawi and Israeli Gershon Baskin.

25.05.2025 - 18:31 [ European Union External Action (EEAS) / Auswärtiger Dienst der Europäischen Union ]

Joint donor statement on humanitarian aid to Gaza

(May 19, 2025)

Israel’s security cabinet has reportedly approved a new model for delivering aid into Gaza, which the UN and our humanitarian partners cannot support. They are clear that they will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles. Humanitarian principles matter for every conflict around the world and should be applied consistently in every warzone. The UN has raised concerns that the proposed model cannot deliver aid effectively, at the speed and scale required. It places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners, and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives. Humanitarian aid should never be politicised, and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.
(…)
The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management and the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean.

24.05.2025 - 18:48 [ Nachdenkseiten ]

Wieso stimmte Bundesregierung gegen Überprüfung von Menschenrechtsverstößen Israels durch die EU?

Deutschland findet sich immer mehr in einer Minderheitenposition in der EU wieder. Diese Woche am 20. Mai stimmte Berlin gegen die überwiegende Mehrheit der EU-Länder, die einem niederländischen Vorschlag gefolgt waren, eine Prüfung einzuleiten, ob Israel mit dem Vorgehen in Gaza gegen seine Menschenrechtsverpflichtungen gemäß Artikel 2 des Assoziierungsabkommens zwischen der EU und Israel verstoßen hat. Die NachDenkSeiten wollten wissen, mit welcher Begründung sich Deutschland gegen eine solche Überprüfung ausgesprochen hat.

20.05.2025 - 23:32 [ Bloomberg ]

Spain to Host Arab-EU Summit on May 25 to Discuss Gaza War

“We want to mobilize EU voices but also those outside the EU, in Arab and Islamic countries,” Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in an interview Tuesday. “We all want the same thing: To end this war, avoid Gaza turning into a massive graveyard, and break the Israeli blockade to humanitarian aid.”

20.05.2025 - 21:54 [ CNN ]

UK pauses trade talks and EU reviews relationship with Israel, as pressure grows on Netanyahu to halt Gaza siege

The United Kingdom paused trade negotiations with Israel and sanctioned West Bank settlers, as Britain’s top diplomat slammed Israel’s operation in Gaza as “morally unjustifiable” and “wholly disproportionate.”

Meanwhile, the European Union announced that it would review its relationship with Israel, with the EU’s foreign policy chief calling the situation on the ground in Gaza “catastrophic.”

20.05.2025 - 21:47 [ Euronews.com ]

EU to review its trade and cooperation with Israel over Gaza offensive

Nine member states — Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden — had publicly backed the Netherlands‘ proposal ahead of Tuesday‘s gathering of foreign ministers.

Denmark, Estonia, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia also backed the review on Tuesday, according to diplomatic sources. Austria, a staunch supporter of Israel, did not take the floor to voice any opposition, another diplomat said.

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Lithuania were said to be against, while Latvia was „neutral“, the sources also said.

20.05.2025 - 21:38 [ theNationalNews.com ]

Netherlands to rally EU support to increase pressure on Israel amid divisions across Europe

The Netherlands is set to try to rally support from other European Union countries to increase pressure on Israel on Tuesday by calling for a review of relations, as western nations increasingly criticise the expansion of Israeli military operations in Gaza.

The Dutch move has garnered strong support from human rights groups but will be no easy task due to the rejection of a review by Germany and deep divisions within the bloc over the Israel-Palestine conflict.

20.05.2025 - 13:25 [ France24.com ]

Gaza: Villepin appelle les Occidentaux à „isoler“ Israël pour empêcher „une épuration ethnique“

Dominique de Villepin s‘en est vivement pris à l‘action d‘Emmanuel Macron.

„Quelle crédibilité peut-on avoir sur le dossier ukrainien quand nous ne sommes que capables de signer des communiqués? Je peux vous dire que Jacques Chirac aujourd‘hui ne se contenterait pas de signer un communiqué avec le Canada et avec le Royaume-Uni“, a martelé l‘ancien ministre des Affaires étrangères.

20.05.2025 - 13:22 [ Middle East Eye ]

Former French prime minister calls for ‚isolating‘ Israel to prevent ‚ethnic cleansing‘

He added: „The Europeans know this perfectly well, and they are there with wooden swords, even though there are three things that must be done immediately.“

First, „immediately suspend the European agreement with Israel. Most of Israel‘s trade is with Europe. Second, impose an arms embargo on all European countries. Third, refer the entire Israeli government and key Israeli military authorities to the International Criminal Court … by writing collectively to the court,“ he proposed.

20.05.2025 - 13:20 [ Middle East Monitor ]

Former French PM: ‘West will have to pay for Gaza silence’

Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin gave an impassioned interview to French radio about the ‚scandal‘ of the war in Gaza, which he says has been forgotten about in France. De Villepan says Gaza is a war like no other because of its high civilian death toll, and says France and Europe have the military and economic levers to pressure Israel but they choose not to. Commentators in France are remarking about how rare it is for someone with the profile of de Villepin – a right-wing politician who served as prime minister, foreign minister and interior minister under Jacques Chiraq‘s government – to criticise Israel so openly and tell the truth about the war in Gaza.

15.05.2025 - 15:29 [ Human Rights Watch ]

Gaza: Latest Israeli Plan Inches Closer to Extermination

Israeli authorities, who have blocked the entry of aid, food, fuel, and medical supplies into Gaza for 75 days, have reportedly decided on a plan that would include “flatten[ing]” buildings and displacing Gaza’s entire population into a single “humanitarian area” if no “deal” with Hamas is reached by mid-May 2025. The dire humanitarian situation stemming from the unlawful blockade and plans to escalate forced displacement and widespread destruction demand a more robust response from other governments and institutions, especially the United States, France, Germany, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. Human Rights Watch called on all parties to the Genocide Convention to do more to prevent further atrocities, including ending weapons sales, military assistance, and diplomatic support to Israel, imposing targeted sanctions on Israeli officials, and reviewing and considering suspending bilateral agreements.

“Hearing Israeli officials flaunt plans to squeeze Gaza’s 2 million people into an even tinier area while making the rest of the land uninhabitable should be treated like a five-alarm fire in London, Brussels, Paris, and Washington,” said Federico Borello, interim executive director of Human Rights Watch. “Israel’s blockade has transcended military tactics to become a tool of extermination.”

09.05.2025 - 16:01 [ mysanantonio.com ]

The EU will hold talks later this month on reviewing ties with Israel as concern mounts over Gaza

(May 8, 2025)

Ties between the EU and Israel — which are major trading partners — are governed by a so-called Association Agreement. It stipulates that their ties “shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.”

The Dutch government has said that it intends to block the agreement pending an EU review into whether the Israel government is complying with the pact, which entered force in 2000. Kallas said the ministers would discuss this on May 20.

09.05.2025 - 15:51 [ JNS.org ]

The Netherlands moves to veto extension of Israel-EU cooperation agreement

(May 7, 2025)

In a missive to European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Veldkamp accused Jerusalem of acting in violation of the 2000 E.U.-Israel Association Agreement, which states that relations between the Jewish state and the 27-member body are “based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.”

The Netherlands will block European cooperation with Jerusalem until alleged rights abuses are investigated, he wrote to Kallas. Renewal of the program requires unanimous support from all E.U. foreign ministers.

04.05.2025 - 10:32 [ Electronic Intifada ]

Israel and EU seek to boost trade amid war of extermination

A document obtained via a freedom of information request gives some insight into such efforts. It concerns a discussion held between Maroš Šefčovič, the EU’s trade commissioner, and Nir Barkat, Israel’s economy minister, in March.

Two main topics were addressed, according to a readout of the meeting – see below.

02.05.2025 - 14:49 [ Freedom Flotilla Coalition ]

Condemnations and call for investigation from experts following the attack on the Freedom Flotilla

We call on every State, every union of States, every people and every principled institution globally to rise and condemn this act and to support the rebuilding and sailing of the Flotilla at the earliest time possible. We demand that Europe, the African Union, ASEAN, Latin American States, and the Arab world assert their sovereignty- and humanity– by refusing to be intimidated into silence and complicity with lawlessness. We demand a full international investigation under the auspices of the United Nations. We demand that Malta and all coastal States take immediate protective measures. And, we call on all States to invoke universal jurisdiction, to enact arms embargoes, suspend treaties, and stop their diplomatic cover and complicity with this barbaric and rogue regime. Otherwise the bloodshed will not stop in Gaza; and it will not stop with the Flotilla. Either Israel is stopped- or the whole world will bleed at the altar of Israeli genocidal fascism.”

– Lamis Deek, Attorney, PAL Law Commission

24.03.2025 - 13:10 [ Middle East Eye ]

‚Natural for Israel to expect European support,‘ says Israeli foreign minister

“It’s only natural for Israel to expect European support,” he said, according to The Times of Israel.

Saar framed Israel’s war as a global battle, lumping Iran, the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah together as enemies of the West. “They attack us because we are nearby,” he claimed.

“But make no mistake, the war is against Western civilisation—against its values and its way of life.”

21.03.2025 - 17:42 [ Amnesty International ]

Europe: EU leaders’ ‘shameful’ attempt at justifying Israel’s genocide and war crimes against Palestinians

Reacting to the European Council’s conclusions of 20 March 2025 on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory Eve Geddie, the Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office said:

“After 17 months of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the fact that the EU refuses to name Israel, condemn air strikes wiping out entire families or condemn Israel’s blocking of vital humanitarian aid is extraordinary. The EU’s position not only fails to reflect the EU’s professed commitment to international law, but also demonstrates selective compassion towards victims, particularly when they are Palestinian.

“The EU leaders’ text is another shameful attempt to justify Israel’s genocide and war crimes against Palestinians. Instead of obfuscating the facts, EU leaders should take clear and decisive action to prevent potential complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, apartheid and unlawful occupation. For too long the EU has been divided on how to respond to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, with some member states continuing to send weapons and ammunition to Israel in breach of their obligations to prevent genocide and ensure respect for the Geneva Conventions. This must end now.”

25.12.2024 - 16:19 [ Médecins Sans Frontières ]

Gaza death trap: MSF report exposes Israel’s campaign of total destruction

(December 19, 2024)

„What our medical teams have witnessed on the ground throughout this conflict is consistent with the descriptions provided by an increasing number of legal experts and organizations concluding that genocide is taking place in Gaza,” Lockyear said. (…)

MSF calls on states, particularly Israel’s closest allies, to end their unconditional support for Israel and fulfill their obligation to prevent genocide in Gaza. Nearly a year ago, on January 26, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take “immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.” Israel has taken no meaningful action to comply with the court order. Instead, Israeli authorities continue to actively block MSF and other humanitarian organizations from providing lifesaving assistance to people trapped under siege and bombardment.

25.12.2024 - 16:12 [ Human Rights Watch ]

Extermination and Acts of Genocide

(December 19, 2024)

To All States

– Take all measures within their power to prevent genocide by Israeli authorities in Gaza by pressuring Israel to lift the blockade and comply with the orders of the International Court of Justice, including by discontinuing any military assistance and arms sales or transfers, imposing targeted sanctions, and reviewing bilateral deals and diplomatic relations.

– Publicly condemn war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and the genocide convention committed by the Israeli authorities, and urge them to immediately halt those violations and crimes and cooperate with international judicial bodies, investigative mechanisms, and UN special procedures.

– Increase public and private pressure on the Israeli government to comply with international humanitarian law in the conduct of hostilities, and ensure the entry and safe distribution at scale throughout Gaza of adequate aid and provision of basic services.

– Demand that Israel implement UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions on Israel and Palestine, including all provisions relating to humanitarian aid delivery to the residents of Gaza and compliance with international humanitarian law.

– Review and possibly suspend bilateral agreements with Israel, such as the EU-Israel Association Agreement, whose review has been proposed by the Spanish and Irish governments.

– End all forms of support for and complicity in the atrocities being carried out by Israel, including suspending military assistance and arms transfers to the Israeli government so long as its forces commit serious rights abuses and war crimes against Palestinian civilians with impunity.

– Publicly support the ICJ’s work and its decisions as an independent judicial institution and press Israel to comply with the ICJ’s binding orders.

– Publicly support the work of the International Criminal Court across all situations under its jurisdiction, including the ongoing Palestine investigation, and render any assistance necessary to give effect to orders of the Court. Uphold the court’s independence and publicly condemn efforts to intimidate or interfere with its work, officials, and those cooperating with the institution.

– Support foreign domestic investigations and prosecutions under the principle of universal jurisdiction, as relevant and appropriate, of those credibly implicated in serious crimes in Gaza.

– The United States should immediately reverse its decisions to suspend funding to UNRWA and state clearly the intention to continue to fund the agency, and all states should urge Israeli authorities to reverse Israel‘s decisions to bar UNRWA from operating within Israel.

– Fund repairs of damaged and destroyed water and sanitation infrastructure, and press Israel to urgently allow the infrastructure to be repaired.

– Support the creation of an international mechanism to address reparation for Palestinians and an international register of damages.

– Call on Israeli authorities to allow water filtration systems, water tanks, and other materials needed to repair water infrastructure and to improve the water supply into Gaza.

– Support the United Nations to establish a plan that would ensure Palestinians have access to water at least equal to what Israel grants Israeli citizens, and pressure Israel to facilitate and contribute to the plan.

– Address long-standing impunity by Israeli authorities and Palestinian armed groups for serious crimes under international law.

To the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation

– Request access to Gaza in order to monitor and report publicly on the human rights situation regarding access to water and sanitation, including damage and destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure; obstruction of repairs and targeting of repair workers; restrictions on the entry of fuel; and the human rights impacts stemming from these actions.

To the International Criminal Court Prosecutor

– Investigate Israeli authorities’ actions and policies that have deprived the civilian population of Gaza of water, including as war crimes, as the crime against humanity of extermination, and as genocide.

20.12.2024 - 00:25 [ Médecins Sans Frontières ]

Gaza death trap: MSF report exposes Israel’s campaign of total destruction

19.12.2024 - 23:50 [ Palestune Chronicle ]

‘Anyone who Enters is Shot’ – Israeli Army Officers Reveal ‘Kill Zone’ in Gaza

Israeli army officers have revealed that an area along the Netzarim corridor in the Gaza Strip was a designated “kill zone” where “anyone who enters is shot,” the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Wednesday.

A commander in Division 252 said that “forces in the field call it ‘the line of dead bodies,” because “after shootings, bodies are not collected, attracting packs of dogs who come to eat them.”

“In Gaza, people know that wherever you see these dogs, that’s where you must not go,” the commander is quoted as saying.

19.12.2024 - 21:24 [ Human Rights Watch ]

Extermination and Acts of Genocide: Israel Deliberately Depriving Palestinians in Gaza of Water