Second-largest EU Parliament group protests, demands suspension of Israel pact

The second-largest political group in the European Parliament held a protest on Wednesday inside the parliament building in Brussels, demanding the suspension of the EU’s partnership agreement with Israel. Lawmakers from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) displayed signs reading “Suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement Now!” and called for stronger action by EU institutions over developments in the Middle East. In a statement accompanying the protest, the group said the European Council “must suspend the EU-Israel association agreement!” They also shared a photo on X, captioning it with demands for “immediate sanctions on violent settlers in the West Bank” and that “the creation of a Palestinian State must be the EU’s unwavering priority, starting with reconstruction of Gaza.”

Context of the agreement

The EU-Israel Association Agreement, in force since 2000, provides the framework for political dialogue, trade, and cooperation between the EU and Israel. However, Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank, and military operations in Lebanon have led many in the bloc to question why Israel should continue receiving preferential treatment. The S&D protest reflects growing frustration among European lawmakers who feel that diplomatic measures have been insufficient.