Brussels, 14 November 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell has proposed that EU member states suspend political dialogue with Israel over its war in the Gaza Strip, an EU diplomatic source told dpa on Wednesday.

"Based on available reports of independent international agencies there are reasons to consider that Israel is violating human rights and international humanitarian law," the source told dpa.

The initiative, which was put forward in a meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday, is now to be discussed at a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday in Brussels.

Political dialogue with Israel is regulated by the EU-Israel Association Agreement that went into force in 2000.

The agreement provides for regular exchanges to strengthen the partnership. It also states that relations between the sides are based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.

Several EU states demanding consequences

Borrell, who is from Spain, said in October that he wanted to lead a debate on Israel's conduct in the wars in Gaza and in Lebanon at the next foreign ministers' meeting. Borrell's aides said then that immediate consequences could be implemented if there were unanimous assessments against Israel.

Spain and Ireland had already suggested several months ago to scrutinize the EU's partnership agreement Israel. The agreement covers not only dialogue but also economic cooperation in areas such as industry, energy, transport, and tourism.

Diplomats now emphasize that suspending the institutional political dialogue does not mean suspending the EU's Association Agreement with Israel or suspending the Association Council, which the EU-Israel agreement created and is the main body handling relations between the two.

Instead, they said the differences could be discussed in the Association Council with Israel.

Borrell's proposal to suspend the political dialogue with Israel comes after the EU had asked Israel some time ago for a meeting of the Association Council to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the allegations against Israel, the diplomats said.

However, after several months, no agreement has been reached with the Israeli government, they said.

Unanimity required for implementation

It is considered unlikely that Borrell's proposal to suspend the dialogue will receive the necessary unanimous agreement. Hungary and the Czech Republic have so far clearly stood on Israel's side. However, EU officials stress that from Borrell's perspective, even a discussion among member states could represent a significant political signal.

It was initially unclear how the German government would position itself. In recent months, representatives have repeatedly voiced criticism of initiatives for punitive measures and emphasized that communication channels must remain open.

Borrell's farewell proposal?

The initiative concerning Israel could be Borrell's last major diplomatic move before leaving the office of EU foreign representative. Over the summer, member states selected the former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas.

She can take over the top post once the European Parliament confirms the new European Commission. That process is already underway. Borrell took office on December 1, 2019.

Photo: EPA