Josep Borrell will propose on Monday, within the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (CAE) in Brussels, the suspension of the political dialogue with Israel - thediplomaticaffairs.com

Geneva, Switzerland

Middle East Op-Ed November 18, 2024

Josep Borrell will propose on Monday, within the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (CAE) in Brussels, the suspension of the political dialogue with Israel

Photo: Reuters

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, will propose on Monday, within the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (CAE) in Brussels, the suspension of the political dialogue with Israel against the background of the war in the Gaza Strip. The decision comes after “a year of ignored promises by the Israeli authorities regarding compliance with international law in the Gaza war,” Borrell wrote before the ministerial meeting in Brussels. In addition, Josep Borrell wants the import of products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories to be banned. The European official had declared in October that he wanted a debate about Israel’s attitude in the conflicts in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon to take place at the first CAE meeting.

The political dialogue with Israel is regulated by the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2000 and which provides for periodic exchanges of views in order to strengthen the partnership. The agreement also stipulates that relations between the two parties are based on respect for human rights and democratic principles. Spain and Ireland have already suggested, a few months ago, that the partnership agreement between the EU and Israel should be re-examined.

The agreement covers not only political dialogue but also economic cooperation in areas such as industry, energy, transport, and tourism. Several European diplomats emphasized that the suspension of the political dialogue does not mean the suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel, nor of the Association Council created on the basis of the agreement, which is the main body that manages the relations between the two parties. On the other hand, the foreign ministers of the EU states will discuss Russia’s aggression against Ukraine after an informal exchange of views with the Ukrainian minister of foreign affairs, Andrii Sîbiga, via video conference. Another topic on the CAE agenda is the situation in Georgia, considering the parliamentary elections held on October 26.

By TDA

Related Posts