Europe EU diplomat Borrell considers halting dialog with Israel

Josep Borrell, the EU's chief diplomat, has proposed temporarily suspending the political dialog with Israel. The proposal is based on reports of possible human rights violations.

Josep Borrell, the European Union's chief diplomat, has suggested that member states pause regular political exchanges with Israel for the time being. This recommendation is based on reports from international organizations accusing Israel of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, EU officials told the German Press Agency in Brussels.

The proposal was presented orally in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states and is to be discussed at the next meeting of foreign ministers next Monday. The political dialog with Israel is part of an association agreement from the year 2000, which provides for regular consultations to strengthen relations and promote partnership. This agreement is based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.

Long-standing calls for consequences

Borrell had already announced in October that he would initiate a discussion on Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. The Spaniard's staff stated that immediate measures could be taken if a unified assessment was made to the detriment of Israel. Spain and Ireland had already called months ago for a review of the partnership agreement with Israel, which also covers economic cooperation in areas such as industry, energy, transport and tourism.

Diplomats emphasize that the suspension of the institutional dialogue does not mean the end of the Association Agreement or the Association Council. Rather, the issue could be discussed in the Association Council with Israel. Borrell's initiative is also due to the fact that the EU has long been seeking a meeting of the Association Council with Israel to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the accusations. However, an agreement with the Israeli government on the organization of such a meeting has yet to be reached.

Hurdles to implementation

The implementation of Borrell's proposal requires the unanimous agreement of all member states, which is considered unlikely. Countries such as Hungary and the Czech Republic have so far clearly sided with Israel. Nevertheless, EU officials see the discussion among the member states as a strong political signal.

The position of the German government remains unclear. In recent months, German representatives have expressed criticism of sanctions and emphasized that channels of communication should remain open.

Borrell's latest initiative

The initiative could be Borrell's last significant diplomatic action before he leaves his post as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs. Kaja Kallas, the former Estonian head of government, has already been chosen as his successor. She will take office as soon as the European Parliament confirms the new EU Commission. Borrell took office on December 1, 2019.

SDA