At a time when the European Union officially recognises that Israel is violating its association agreement, the Party of the European Left and numerous NGOs are calling for the agreement to be suspended. More than just a trade text, this is a major political, moral and legal issue, revealing the contradictions and flaws of European policy in the Middle East.
The European Union is now faced with a historic dilemma: to maintain an association agreement with Israel while the latter is clearly violating human rights and international law, or to finally assume its responsibilities by suspending this agreement. The Party of the European Left (PGE), together with a number of member parties such as La France insoumise, Die Linke and Podemos, is calling for the immediate suspension of this agreement, pointing to European complicity in the violations committed in Gaza and the West Bank.
An association agreement under pressure
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which came into force in 2000, governs trade and political cooperation between the two parties. It abolishes customs duties on the majority of Israeli industrial products, facilitates agricultural trade and supports scientific and technological cooperation. Israel has thus become Europe’s leading trading partner in the Middle East.
But a recent report by the European Commission, presented by the head of diplomacy Kaja Kallas, concludes that the Jewish State has violated Article 2 of the agreement, which makes cooperation conditional on respect for human rights and democratic principles. This conclusion is shared by numerous NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which denounce a European “green light” for continued violations, and even “genocide” in Gaza.
Concrete loopholes: settlement products and Palestinian access
The agreement officially excludes products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. However, in reality, these products continue to enter the European market, often under the label “made in Israel”, fuelling the economy of illegal colonisation. This situation is fuelling a growing protest within European civil society.
In addition, although a separate agreement exists with the Palestinian Authority to facilitate the export of Palestinian products, the restrictions imposed by the occupation, the blockade and Israeli controls drastically limit this access, stifling the Palestinian economy.
Why suspend the agreement? A question of consistency and justice
Article 2 of the agreement stipulates that respect for human rights is an “essential element”. However, repeated violations, confirmed by international agencies and the International Criminal Court, render this principle null and void. For the European Left, continuing to trade unconditionally with Israel is tantamount to condoning colonisation, war crimes and human rights violations.
Suspending the agreement would therefore be an act of political and moral consistency, a lever to put pressure on Israel and support a just and lasting peace. More than 110 European organisations and trade unions have signed a joint declaration calling for this measure.
The practical implications of a suspension
Suspending the agreement would mean reintroducing customs duties on Israeli products, making them more expensive and weakening certain key sectors, notably high-tech and agriculture. It would also increase pressure against imports of products from the settlements, cutting off a source of funding for the occupation.
Diplomatically, this would be a major turning point, risking cooling EU-Israel relations, but affirming the consistency of European values in the face of human rights violations.
Obstacles and political issues
Any suspension requires the unanimous agreement of the Member States, which seems difficult at present, with some countries such as Germany being reluctant. The head of European diplomacy raised the possibility of “additional measures” if Israel does not change its policy, but did not rule out a partial suspension, particularly of the trade component.
This hesitation illustrates the tensions within the EU between realpolitik, economic interests and ethical demands. However, for the European Left, prolonged inaction exposes the EU to accusations of complicity in serious crimes.
In conclusion, the suspension of the EU-Israel agreement is much more than a trade issue: it is a test of European credibility when it comes to human rights and respect for international law. The European Left is calling for a political and citizens’ mobilisation so that the EU stops being complicit in the occupation and the massacre in Gaza and finally supports a just peace in the Middle East.
