Europe-Israel relations have faced challenging times since the Hamas onslaught on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. While initial support for the Jewish state’s right to self-defense was total among European Union member states, this solidarity eroded quickly and changed into open hostility from both some governments and public opinion.
It also resulted in an unprecedented rise of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment and acts in Europe.
Last September, the European Commission called for sanctions against Israel, including suspending trade preferences under the E.U.-Israel Association Agreement (adding tariffs in billions on goods like produce) and sanctioning extremist ministers/violent settlers, to improve Gaza’s humanitarian situation.
However, these measures lacked unanimous support from member states, which are divided on this issue; some, like Germany and Italy, were opposed to sanctions, and others, like Spain and Ireland, were very hostile toward the Jewish state from the outset.
Despite the ceasefire agreed in October between Israel and Hamas in the framework of the Trump 20-point peace plan, and the increase of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, the threat of sanctions remains on the E.U. agenda.
Will the E.U. Foreign Affairs Council decide to lift the sanctions at Monday’s meeting of the 27 Foreign Ministers?
German Member of the European Parliament Hildegard Bentele, who chairs the European Parliament delegation for relations with Israel, expressed strong opposition to these sanctions during a press event earlier this week on Europe-Israel relations organized in Brussels by the Europe Israel Press Association (EIPA).
“I was against these sanctions, against my own president of the Commission [Ursula von der Leyen] and almost all my German colleagues voted against,’’ she said.
“This was completely unnecessary because much more humanitarian aid is entering Gaza. It was very clearly explained to me when I was in Israel one month ago. If the E.U. doesn’t take the sanctions off the table, it will not be considered as a partner.
“It cannot be a partner and at the same time continue to threaten with sanctions. This doesn’t go together. This was confirmed during this week’s visit of Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Jerusalem.
“Israel is now working with member states, leaving the E.U. outside more or less, sidelining it, ignoring it and instead working with Italy, Germany and others. This is “plan B,’’ which I understand to a certain extent,’’ Bentele said. “This doesn’t give a good picture of us,’’ she added.
A recent Ramat Gan-based Mitvim Institute survey shows that 67% of Israelis now see Europe more as an “adversary’’ than a partner.
“It is high time to take the sanctions off the table. You have a ceasefire; the hostages have been released. You have to turn the page and to focus on the reconstruction of Gaza and the removal of Hamas from power,’’ Bentele insisted. “I’ m trying to pressure for it,’’ she added.
She deplored the fact that the E.U.’s External Service, the E.U.’s diplomatic arm, which deals with E.U.-Israel ties, is “very stubborn and not very flexible.’’
“I talked to the special E.U. Representative for the Mideast Peace Process, Christophe Bigot, and with E.U. High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas. She needs some face-saving measures from the Israeli side, something she can show to the member states. For example, the renewal of the E.U. police mission and the EUBAM Border Mission in Rafah, because they are on hold.’’
“There should be some moves from the Israeli side so the sanctions could be lifted,’’ Bentele was told.
She mentioned that nothing came out on the issue of sanctions during Merz’s talks in Jerusalem, “because Germany is in a minority position and it was confirmed that the other member states like Spain and Ireland are sticking to their position regardless of what is happening on the ground.’’
“They don’t want to change their position, although the situation on the ground has completely changed. They continue to speak about the genocide and continue their obsession with Israel,’’ the German MEP said.
“I will not stop working to change this and will also reconnect with the president of the Commission because she made this terrible move in September on sanctions. She resisted it all year long, but then gave in to pressure from Spain and European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribeira.
“It is terrible to say it, but it was also a bargaining chip for other issues, where she had to give something to the left. ... I would never bargain about Israel,’’ said Bentele.
Originally published by the European Jewish Press.
