Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called on the European Union to suspend its free trade agreement with Israel, citing concerns over Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
The initiative, jointly proposed by Spain and Ireland, seeks to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement due to what they believe could be violations of the human rights clause embedded within the agreement.
In recent months, Spain and Ireland have held discussions with other EU member states, pushing for a reassessment of this trade deal.
Both countries argue that Israel’s recent military actions may breach the human rights standards outlined in the trade agreement, thus warranting its suspension.
Just two days ago, Sánchez intensified his stance, calling on the international community to impose an arms embargo on Israel.
In a press conference following his meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sánchez urged for an immediate halt to the export of weapons to Israel, highlighting the escalating violence in the Middle East.
Sánchez voiced his deep concern over the Israeli bombardment of the United Nations peacekeeping force’s headquarters, UNIFIL, in Lebanon.
He stressed the need for swift international action to address the ongoing violence and to reassess how European nations engage with Israel, both economically and militarily.
The growing pressure from Spain and Ireland may push the EU to revisit its trade relations with Israel, particularly as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East.
