More than 350 former European ministers, ambassadors and senior officials have issued a public statement calling on the European Union to take measures against Israel, in a letter sent on Wednesday to the governments of all 27 member states and the heads of EU institutions.
The letter is addressed to heads of government, foreign ministers, and the leadership of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council, ahead of upcoming meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 April and the European Council.
Sanctions
Among other proposals, the signatories urge the EU to initiate procedures to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement, either in full or in part. They also call for a ban on trade with Israeli settlements deemed illegal, as well as a halt to exports of military equipment to Israel.
In addition, the letter recommends suspending Israel’s participation in European programmes and expanding sanctions, including visa bans, against individuals linked to alleged violations.
The statement further proposes the establishment of specific human rights benchmarks against which Israel’s future conduct would be assessed, with provisions for additional sanctions in the event of non-compliance.
The former officials justify their intervention by citing the ongoing situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including military operations and what they describe as conditions of a humanitarian crisis. They also raise concerns regarding the application of international law and human rights, urging the EU to take a more active role and to use the tools at its disposal to uphold international law in the region.
Members of the coordination group include Michael Doyle, Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff, Jeremy Lester, Jim Moran, Luigi Narbone, Richard Wright and Androulla Kaminara.
CNA