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If Israel does not “improve the situation” in Gaza, the EU will discuss “more steps” on how to suspend the association agreement with Tel Aviv at its next rally in July.
“Our first goal is to change the situation on earth,” Karas said. “If the situation doesn’t improve, we’ll discuss further measures and come back in July.”
Karas spoke days after he presented the minister with an eight-page review of the Bloc’s EU Israel Association Agreement.
The EU foreign minister was expected to respond to a list of violations, including humanitarian blockades, military strikes against hospitals and forced displacement of Palestinians.
However, the conference took place amid unprecedented tensions in the Middle East 24 hours after the US joined Israel’s strike against Israeli nuclear presence and struck three major Iranian military locations.
Israel also condemned the review of the EU-Israel Association’s agreement, saying, “This report and its conclusion should not be used as a basis for future actions or conversations.”
Diplomats argue that the war in Iran and Gaza is two separate issues, but US military intervention added another degree of uncertainty among Europeans “crying to see how they react,” one diplomat said.
If Israel does not improve the situation in Gaza, it will be up to crows to explore the “option” to suspend the association agreement.
A complete suspension of contracts will appear out of question as there is no unanimity between member states, but the diplomat said on Monday that one option envisaged by the minister is to partially suspend certain provisions relating to free trade, research and technology in the EU Israel Association Agreement.
The diplomat said that Karas will work with the European Commission, which is responsible for trade issues, to find options that require a qualified majority.
“The specific question is, what can we agree with,” Karas asked.
