EU top diplomat wants Israel dialogue suspended over Gaza war

Josep Borrell, the EU鈥檚 outgoing foreign policy chief, has written to member states to ask them to suspend the bloc鈥檚 political dialogue with Israel. (AFP)
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  • Josep Borrell raised his proposal during a meeting of ambassadors
  • EU countries have struggled for a unified position on the Gaza war

BRUSSELS: The EU鈥檚 outgoing foreign policy chief has urged the bloc to suspend a political dialogue with Israel over human rights concerns in Gaza but it is likely to be vetoed, diplomats said Thursday.
Josep Borrell raised his proposal during a meeting of ambassadors on Wednesday, according to four diplomats involved, and is expected to formalize it when European Union foreign ministers gather in Brussels early next week.
The foreign policy chief has written to member states to ask them to suspend the EU鈥檚 political dialogue with Israel 鈥� part of a wider agreement governing trade ties 鈥� 鈥渙ver alleged abuses鈥� in the Gaza conflict, one diplomat said.
鈥淚t is forcing people to talk about the issues,鈥� said the diplomat, adding that 鈥渢he widespread expectation is that it will not be agreed鈥� 鈥� considering that EU foreign policy decisions require unanimity among the 27 member states.
Made 鈥渨ithout any forewarning,鈥� Borrell鈥檚 proposal 鈥渃ame as a complete surprise,鈥� according to a second diplomat who confirmed that it was 鈥渋mmediately objected to by a large group of member states.鈥�
Key powers Germany and Italy were among the countries said to have raised objections, along with the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Greece.
Two other diplomats confirmed Borrell鈥檚 proposal 鈥� formulated as he prepares to hand over next month to his designated successor Kaja Kallas 鈥� without providing details.
EU countries 鈥� which include staunch allies of Israel as well as firm supporters of the Palestinians 鈥� have struggled for a unified position on the Gaza war.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, dating from 2000 and governing bilateral relations, contains legally binding provisions on human rights, which Borrell hopes to invoke to suspend the political dialogue.
The EU formally invited Israel in June to discuss ties under the accord in the context of the Gaza conflict, but no meeting has taken place for want of an agreement on an agenda.
Spain and Ireland 鈥� which earlier this year recognized a Palestinian state 鈥� have called on the EU to review the entire association agreement over Israel鈥檚 Gaza offensive.
The war erupted with the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas militants, which resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel鈥檚 retaliatory campaign has killed 43,665 people in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory鈥檚 health ministry, which the UN considers reliable.