The next test of EU unity on Israel is expected to be a possible trade restriction on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. An options document outlining a complete or partial trade ban on Israeli settlements was distributed by the European Commission on Wednesday and will be debated at the foreign affairs ministers’ meeting on Monday. In addition to needing an export license for items from the settlements and raising tariffs to make them unaffordable, the prohibition is just one of the alternatives available.
At a ministerial conference last month, twenty member states asked the Commission to outline the alternatives for trade restrictions on the settlements, which are prohibited by international law. This request was reaffirmed in the conclusions of the most recent European Council summit. Even though they anticipate splits to emerge in the upcoming talks, a number of member states have welcomed the fact that the file is finally moving while EU capitals continue to analyze the choices now formally on the table.On condition of anonymity, an EU ambassador informed Euronews that there is no agreement on this. “But we are already happy that it is there.”
One of the most contentious issues in the bloc is still Israel. While Germany and the Czech Republic have been more circumspect, afraid of upsetting Israel, France and Sweden have publicly advocated for trade restrictions with the settlements.
Also Read:
As 23 People are Killed in the Kyiv Region, Ukraine Warns of a Scarcity of Interceptor Missiles
In a “Significant Restructuring, Microsoft Reduces Xbox and Eliminates 4,800 Workers
