Von der Leyen proposes partial suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a suspension of the trade parts of the so-called Association Agreement between the EU and Israel in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

She also proposed sanctions on “extremist ministers and on violent settlers” and announced that the European Commission is suspending all payments to Israel over the country’s conduct in the Gaza Strip.

“We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold. We will stop all payments in these areas without affecting our work with civil society or [Holocaust memorial] Yad Vashem,” she said.

“Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity, this must stop. … What is happening in Gaza is unacceptable and … Europe must lead the way just as it has done before,” she added.

Von der Leyen admitted finding majority support for these measures among member states would be difficult.

Germany, with what it sees as its historical responsibility for Israel’s security arising from the Holocaust, has been against previous measures and would likely not agree to new sanctions.

Other countries such as Spain are on the other side of the spectrum and have expressed incomprehension at the rejection of previous commission proposals.

Sanctions would require the support of a so-called qualified majority among member states.

Specifically, this means 15 of the 27 EU member states, which together represent at least 65 percent of the population of the participating member states, would have to vote in favour. (10 September)