EU Commission Proposes Trade Restrictions, Sanctions on Israel
The European Commission on Sept. 16 proposed suspending certain trade concessions made between the EU and Israel and sanctioning members of Hamas, extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers. The commission also said it's "putting on hold its bilateral support to Israel," except for certain support to civil society and the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum.
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The commission said Israel has breached a longstanding economic and political agreement between the two sides due to the "rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza following the military intervention of Israel, the blockade of humanitarian aid, the intensifying of military operations and the decision of the Israeli authorities to advance the settlement plan in the so-called E1 area of the West Bank."
Specifically, the commission proposed suspending the following elements of the agreement: Title II, which concerns the free movement of goods; Title III, which concerns the right of establishment and supply of services; and Chapters 2, 3 and 4 and Title IV, which cover public procurement, competition and intellectual property.
For the decision to take effect, the Council of the EU must adopt it with a "qualified majority." Once the provision is adopted, the EU-Israel Association Council will be notified of the decision, and the suspension will take effect 30 days later.
In addition to the trade restrictions, the commission proposed imposing sanctions against nine Israeli ministers and settlers under the EU global human rights sanctions regime and 10 members of the Hamas politburo under the new Hamas sanctions regime. The council must unanimously adopt the decision for it to take effect.