The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will formally request the European Union to suspend its association agreement with Israel during a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday. This move comes as Spain argues that Israel is violating international law and the fundamental principles and values of the EU.
Speaking at an event, Mr Sánchez stated that Israel "cannot be a partner of the EU" and called for support from other member states for Spain's proposal. This announcement follows a joint letter sent last Friday by Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia to the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, urging a review of the association agreement's suspension.
Calls for Compliance with International Law
In their letter, the three countries contended that the Israeli government has failed to uphold its obligations under the agreement. They highlighted decisions that "contravene human rights and violate international law," noting that numerous direct appeals to the Netanyahu cabinet to "comply with moral and international obligations have been ignored."
The letter specifically lamented decisions such as the Israeli Parliament's approval of the death penalty, which the three nations consider to be in direct contravention of Article 2 of the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel.
The upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers will be a key forum for this discussion, with Ms Kallas expected to consider the request for suspension. The outcome will significantly impact EU-Israel relations and broader international diplomatic efforts concerning the region.
