nl flag go to the original language article
This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by ANP.

MEP Strik: EU should impose sanctions on Israel

by AI | 07.Feb 2025 | Europe in brief AI

The Dutch Member of the European Parliament Tineke Strik (GroenLinks-PvdA) believes that the European Union should take measures against Israel that directly affect the country. According to Strik, there are enough grounds to suspend the EU’s association agreement with Israel. The rights of Palestinians are being seriously violated, she heard and saw during a visit to the West Bank on Thursday.

Member of the European Parliament Tineke Strik (The Greens). Photo: FENA/European Union

BRUSSEL (ANP) – If the association agreement is suspended, Israel would lose its trade advantages. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner.

“With this, we are taking action, making it clear to Israel that there are limits,” says Strik from Jerusalem to ANP. She is in the Palestinian territories and Israel with five other Members of the European Parliament in the coming days to see and hear for herself what is happening in the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel. “We are also here to hear what the European Union can do.”

On Thursday, the first day of the official mission, the Members of the European Parliament spoke with representatives of human rights organizations, the Palestinian Authority, and the EU police mission for the Palestinian territories. The EU has lost much of its credibility, they heard. Although the EU contributes financially to the Palestinians, it does not speak out against Israel, Strik heard.

She has become aware that great injustice is being done to the Palestinians in the West Bank. “Palestinians feel like second-class citizens.”

Since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, Israeli violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has increased, the Members of the European Parliament heard from the EU police for the Palestinian Territories.

The EU really needs to take action now, Strik believes. Amendment of the association agreement requires the consent of all member states. The politician fears that this will not happen. She is now examining what the EU must do to comply with international law.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in mid-July 2024 that Israel’s settlement policy is contrary to international law. So far, the EU has not changed its policy toward Israel, Strik observes: “The EU deals arbitrarily with international values.”

(February 6, 2025)