New Delhi: The costs of war are numerous, among them are financial consequences, and Israel may soon be looking at some difficulties due to its, currently on pause, war with Hamas.
Now three member nations namely Spain, Slovenia and Ireland have requested that the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel be reconsidered because of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Also Germany and Italy blocked a bid to suspend a key European Union trade pact with Israel on Tuesday. European Union foreign ministers meanwhile met to discuss the bloc’s relationship with Israel.
What is the trade pact under discussion?
The agreement came into effect in 2000 and grants Israel preferential access to EU markets and supports cooperation within key areas such as trade, research and diplomacy. The European Union is Israel’s largest trading partner and the agreement is a major part of this dynamic.
What is being contested from those opposing Israel’s inclusion in the deal is one of the central features of its human rights clause. Known as Article 2, it states that cooperation is “based on respect for human rights and democratic principles”.
While the calls to oust Israel from the agreement were blocked this week, the move highlights the growing frustration of some with Israel’s recent human rights violations and aggressive military escalations in Gaza.
Where does Israel stand currently?
In Luxembourg on Tuesday, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told reporters, “I expect every European country to uphold what the International Court of Justice and the UN say on human rights and the defence of international law.” Spain has recently come out in strong opposition to US-Israeli military action in Iran as well, and its stance on the trade deal can be seen as part of that larger trend.
In a statement addressed to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen on Thursday, more than 60 human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, called on the EU and member states to “adopt long-overdue measures, including suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements and suspending all transfers and transit of arms to Israel”.
Despite these calls, Israel has support as well. Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic, are some of the countries which have opposed the step. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called Spain’s request “inappropriate”, saying any issues had to be discussed in a “critical, constructive dialogue with Israel”.