Punishment of some extremists positive, but EU economic relations continue to keep illegal occupation alive

The policy of the European Union towards the Israeli occupation, has historically been an example of avoidance: statements of concern accompanied by normal trade relations.

Therefore, when the EU approved a few days ago sanctions against some Israeli settlers and organizations (such as Amana and Regavim), it seemed like a bold step. The measures include travel bans and asset freezes, while the High Representative of Brussels, Kaja Kallas, declared that it was time for “concrete actions”.

Israel reacted strongly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision as “moral bankruptcy,” while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called it “arbitrary and political.”

These sanctions were made possible by a quiet political shift, largely after the new government in Hungary lifted its veto, without the blocking intervention of traditional allies like Germany or the Czech Republic.

However, celebrating this decision as a turning point is prematurely. The uncomfortable truth is that the EU sanctioned a microscopic fraction of a community of over 730,000 settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Furthermore, European trade policies continue to fund the colonization project. The bloc refuses to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, despite the EU’s diplomatic arm finding violations of the human rights clause.

Requests by Spain, Ireland and Slovenia for suspension were blocked by Germany and Italy. Also, the EU does not prohibit trade with illegal colonies, ignoring the opinion of the International Court of Justice.

Thus, the EU sanctions some individuals, but economically enables the expansion of the colonies. This expansion has reached alarming rates under Israel’s current extremist government.

In the last four years alone, 102 new settlements have been established, squeezing Palestinians into isolated “islands” and making a future Palestinian state impossible.

The Left Group in the European Parliament called the sanctions the “minimum necessary step,” calling for a ban on settlement goods and an embargo. weapons.

Since the embargo and suspension of the agreement remain unrealistic due to internal divisions, the next battleground is the ban on trade with the colonies. France, Sweden, the Netherlands and the Italian opposition are moving in this direction.

The EU Commission recently declared that it “neither commits nor rejects” such a proposal. This shows that the pressure is mounting.

However, until the EU is willing to punish the entire system of colonization, its sanctions will remain merely an attempt at political damage management, rather than a genuine stance of principle. /square

Source: prizrenpost