German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is more isolated among European leaders, because he refuses to support the European Commission’s plan on the Suspension of Research Cooperation with Israel, although the Humanitarian disaster is aggravated in Gaza.
The European Commission has proposed a partial suspension of the EU and Israel accession agreement this week, claiming that the Israeli government is responsible for the humanitarian catastrophe that threatens almost the entire population of Gaza. Many EU countries support the proposal, but Germany still blocks it, which would represent a significant turn from its current solid support to Israel, writes polito.
The pressure is growing in Germany itself, where the ruling of the Social Democrats (SPD) and part of the opposition seek more concrete measures. In June, the SPD called on the government to stop blocking EU v. Israel. The MP of SPD Derya Türk-Nachbaur said that he expects a concrete decision after the planning diplomatic visit of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Germany, France and the United Kingdom Israel.
Merz gives up though
The Commission also opened the Commission in Monday, Israel for the violation of international humanitarian law, stating the danger of hunger, with thousands of civilian casualties and collapse of basic services in Gaza. Despite the urgency, the proposal on the suspension of the Israeli approach to the European program Horizont Europe currently does not have a sufficient number of votes in the EU Council, and Germany and three more countries are blocked.
Still, Merz shows signs of giving up. He stated that Berlin would wait for the results of the upcoming diplomatic mission, but to retain the right to additional measures.
Meanwhile, italy considers the change in the attitude, while the Netherlands already supported the suspension of the Trade Chapter of the Agreement with Israel due to a stalemate in providing humanitarian aid.
If Germany changes the course, it could reverse the balance of strength in the EU and open the way for wider sanctions against Israel. EU officials could urgently be invited to Brussels to vote about the extent, but its legal text has not yet been translated into all member languages, which slows down the decision.
Recognition of the Palestinian State
France and Great Britain announced that in September, the UN General Assembly would be formally recognized by the Palestinian State, while Spain, Ireland and Slovenia has already done it. In Belgium, the decision was delayed due to divided attitudes in the ruling coalition.
In the Netherlands, parliament even interrupted the summer break in Gaza, and banned the entry of two Israeli ministers – becoming the second member of the EU, after Sweden, which has introduced personal sanctions to Netanyahu’s government members.
At the level of the European Commission, divisions also rule. The Vice President of the Commission of Teresa Ribera criticized the President Ursulu Von der Leyen for procrastination, emphasizing that the EU indecisibility is embarrassing given the scale of suffering in Gaza.
– The very fact that the EU cannot reach an agreement or symbolic measure – it is the mockery given the scalp of the suffering – said Bushra Khalida from Oxfam.
(Vijesti.ba)
