The European Parliament supports Von der Leyen's announcement to sanction Israel.

BrusselsThe European Parliament supports Ursula von der Leyen's intention to propose sanctions against Israel. The European Parliament passed a non-binding declaration by 305 votes to 151, with 122 abstentions, advocating a partial suspension of the European Union's association agreement with Israel, halting some EU aid to Tel Aviv, and placing some Israeli ministers on the European Commission's blacklist.

The European People's Party (EPP) had not planned to support this resolution, which had been spearheaded by the progressive forces in the European Parliament. However, Wednesday's speech by Von der Leyen, who is also a member of the conservative party, brought PP MEPs back to the negotiating table to try to secure a position that aligns with the European Commission President's defense. In fact, the announcement by the head of the EU executive to sanction Benjamin Netanyahu's government completely took some delegations of the conservative parliamentary group, such as that of Germany, by surprise.

In any case, the European PP has managed to bring out the most direct accusations against Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, which the progressive forces in the European Parliament defended. Thus, the statement only mentions the word genocide when setting out the facts relating to the case brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice on the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide against Gaza.

It should be remembered, however, that this is symbolic support for von der Leyen, and that it is by no means a binding resolution. In fact, any sanctions against Israel must have the unanimous approval of the member states, which remain divided. Until now, the historically more pro-Zionist states, such as Germany, have vetoed any type of restriction on Netanyahu's government, although they have also recently shown signs of fatigue against Tel Aviv, and the EU as a whole is also shifting toward more pro-Palestinian positions.

Kallas attacks Borrell

Josep Borrell emerged as one of the most pro-Palestinian voices in the European Union during the previous term, as head of European diplomacy. His position contrasted with that of most state leaders and leaders such as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. However, when he was replaced as head of the European bloc's foreign services by the Estonian liberal Kaja Kallas, this counterweight disappeared, although the general position of the The EU has never turned around Toward a more critical stance toward Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Kallas, always very focused on the war in Ukraine, did not utter the word "Gaza" even once in her first appearance before the European Parliament, which was to ratify her as the new head of European diplomacy. Furthermore, she has often been criticized for maintaining a very lukewarm position toward the Netanyahu government and in defense of the Palestinians. Fed up with this criticism, the Estonian leader has decided to speak out and defend her work at the head of European diplomacy in a conversation with the media, including ARA. Kallas asserts that she "has done much more" than her predecessor to stop the war in Gaza. "When Borrell was vice-president of the European Commission, nothing came of it," she said.

Thus, Kallas has defended the idea that her speech should not be as forceful as Borrell's. "I could be very forceful with my speech, and that would mean the Israelis wouldn't talk to me, as happened to my predecessor. What does that achieve?" the Estonian liberal asks. She even asserts that during the previous term, Borrell "didn't present any proposal to the EU Council to move forward" toward greater pressure on Tel Aviv.

However, during Borrell's term, the European Union sanctioned violent West Bank settlers for the first time. Furthermore, the Catalan Socialist Party member unsuccessfully proposed annulling the EU's association agreement with Israel, as von der Leyen announced on Wednesday. Kallas, however, argues that he has succeeded. the review of the EU association agreement with Israel, which has so far come to nothing, and has contributed to an increased flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip since early summer. However, he admits that "it's not enough" and shares the "frustration" with the Catalan socialist. "Will the killing stop if I propose something that won't be approved?" asks Kallas, who knows that The division of the member states over Gaza leaves the community bloc immobile.