Russia, North Korea, Libya or Syria, yes. But Israel, no. Pedro Sánchez and Emmanuel Macron raised the profile of Benjamin Netanyahu by proposing an arms embargo after he attacked the UN peacekeeping mission deployed in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL (formerly UNIFIL, UNIFIL, for its acronym in English). Even if it means crossing a new red line, the possibility of the EU taking this decision is today practically unfeasible because it would require the unanimity of the 27 member states and the double standards of many governments, such as those of Germany , Hungary or the European Union. The Czech Republic, with Tel Aviv compared to the other aggressors, complicates the sanctions against this country.
“I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop sending weapons [a Israel] lead the fighting in Gaza. “France is not doing it,” said the French president, who was the one who opened the tap and who has now gone further by summoning the Israeli ambassador for the attack on the peacekeepers. “We all say there are too many deaths, but deaths continue to rise. This is why the decision taken by the President of the French Republic is so important,” applauded the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, during a debate in the European Parliament where the enormous division between political forces on the question was obvious. conflict in the Middle East in which the right and the far right relentlessly support Netanyahu.
“I think it is urgent that, in light of everything that is happening in the Middle East, the international community stops the export of arms to the Israeli government,” Sánchez asked after his meeting with the pope at the Vatican. This appeal addressed to the rest of the countries that make up the “international community” came after the second Israeli attack on the UN mission in Lebanon.
Spain says it stopped authorizations for arms sales to Israel when the Gaza massacre began – on October 7, 2023 – although the shipment of previously contracted material continued. Spain is the fifth EU country to have exported the most arms to Israel during this period, worth 1.112 million euros. The total embargo is what groups like Sumar or Podemos are demanding.
Sánchez and Macron’s call to the rest of international allies also comes on the eve of the meeting of EU foreign ministers next Monday, although this specific issue is not on the agenda and Borrell n has no intention of putting it on the table. » from community sources, who recognize that the attack against the Blue Helmets constitutes a “serious development”. “Imagine the consequences in the rest of the world,” warn these sources, who emphasize that the aggressor is a State and not even “uncontrollable groups”.
Sixteen EU member states have troops in this UN peacekeeping mission, led by a Spanish general. At the time of writing, the 27 were negotiating a joint sentencing statement.
Sánchez and Macron reiterated the need to stop arms shipments to Israel in a joint statement with the seven other leaders of Mediterranean countries, including Italian far-right Giorgia Meloni, whose country also has troops in the mission. peace in Lebanon and demanded explanations from Israel. “Without weapons, there is no war,” Sánchez said, even if equipment continues to arrive in Israel. However, none of them supported the message of the Spanish and French presidents.
And beyond condemnation, moving the EU towards harsher sanctions against Israel is extremely complicated due to the alliances and connivance of many capitals with this country. In the case of an arms embargo, the decision would be taken within the framework of sanctions – as has happened in the past with countries like Russia, North Korea, Libya or Syria – and its Adoption requires the unanimity of the Member States, which can do so, in any case, individually.
Sánchez recovers the revision of the trade agreement
Countries like Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic, among others, are particularly reluctant to challenge Netanyahu and have torpedoed any steps the EU has attempted to take to try to redirect Israel from the massacre he committed in the region. The Czech government even blocked a joint statement in which it called on Tel Aviv not to carry out a ground offensive in Lebanon after the Iranian attack, which was immediately condemned by the EU. Prague opposed the introduction of a call for containment which would involve calling on Israel not to proceed with the invasion which took place the following day.
The European machine therefore moves particularly slowly when it comes to the consequences for Israel. In fact, it took the EU five months to call a ceasefire after Israel began massacring Gaza residents.
In addition, the 27 initially cooled the revision of the trade agreement proposed in February by Spain and Ireland due to the violation of humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip. Until the Rafah attack, circumventing the resolution of international justice, the matter was in a drawer. In June, Borrell received approval from a majority of member states to summon Israel’s foreign minister as part of the deal. However, since then the file has been practically paralyzed and community sources indicate that “the draft agenda is currently being negotiated” with the Israeli government.
Sánchez insisted once again this Friday on the need to review this agreement for non-compliance with international and humanitarian law and criticized the European Commission for doing nothing (the commercial part, beyond Borrell’s call , depends on the community executive, which did not respond to the letter sent by Sánchez and his Irish counterpart). “If the human rights contained in the association agreement are not respected, there is only one solution: revise this agreement. The agreements must be respected in letter and spirit,” Sánchez said: “I want to ask the Commission to be consistent.”
