LONDON: Amnesty International condemned the EU for failing to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement amid accusations of genocide in Gaza and ongoing violations by settlers against Palestinians.
The Foreign Affairs Council did not adopt any options to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements that were presented on Monday by the European Commission. The EU-Israel Association Agreement has shaped the bloc’s ties with Israel since 2000, governing political dialogue, scientific cooperation, and free trade.
Ireland, which has held the presidency of the Council of the EU since early July, was unable to influence EU member states to pursue accountability for Israel’s violations and suspend trade with settlements, despite Dublin being a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Palestine and Lebanon.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns said: “It’s beyond shameful that a majority of EU member states, led by Germany and Italy, continue to block the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Countries committed to uphold international law must not remain silent while others actively undermine the very principles they claim to defend.”
