350 ex-ministers, diplomats urge EU to suspend Israel agreement

A coalition of 350 former European ministers, ambassadors, and senior officials urged the European Union on Wednesday to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, alleging that Tel Aviv has violated human rights obligations in Palestinian territories. In a joint statement, the signatories said that while global attention is diverted elsewhere, the Israeli government has escalated its “illegal occupation policy” and human rights violations to an intolerable level.

Settlement expansion and death penalty law

The former officials warned that violence has continued despite a nominal ceasefire, and that planned settlement expansion in the E1 corridor would effectively split the West Bank and undermine prospects for a two-state solution. They also raised concerns over legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset on March 30, alleging it introduces the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners while exempting Jewish Israelis. “This abhorrent legislation is redolent of an apartheid state acting without legal restraints,” they said.

Calls for suspension and double standards

The signatories argue that Israel is in breach of Article 2 of the EU-Israel agreement, which requires respect for human rights. They called for full or partial suspension of the agreement, halting trade with settlements, suspending military cooperation, and expanding sanctions and visa bans. They also accused the EU of inconsistency, comparing its approach to Israel with its response to Russia, saying the disparity has created perceptions of “double standards.” Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed at least 1,133 Palestinians in the West Bank and arrested nearly 22,000. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation illegal.