The European Union (EU) will launch a review of the Association Agreement with Israel due to recent events in the Gaza Strip, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kalas said today.
"There is a large majority in favour of reviewing Article 2 (on respect for human rights) of our Association Agreement with Israel. We will therefore start that procedure," she said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
The European Commission will launch this review process to verify whether Israel respects human rights and democratic principles, in accordance with Article 2 of the Agreement, which stipulates that "the relations of the parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights."
Seventeen countries, including France, voted in favor of revising the agreement with Israel, its Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in Paris.
The Netherlands and several other EU countries have written to Kaja Kallas urging him to revise the EU-Israel Association Agreement, in force since 2000, to facilitate political dialogue and trade.
Several EU countries have condemned Israel's escalation in the Gaza Strip, where the situation is described as catastrophic after more than two months of Israeli blockade of all aid to the Palestinian population.
"This is beyond any doubt a violation of human rights," said Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevost, adding that if the European Commission concludes that Israel has not fulfilled Article 2 of the Association Agreement, the validity of that agreement would be suspended.
On Monday, 22 countries, including France, Germany, the UK, Canada, Japan and Australia, demanded that Israel "immediately resume full assistance to the Gaza Strip" and that this be organized by the UN and NGOs.
However, Israeli authorities assessed today that "external pressure will not divert Israel from the path of defending its existence and security from enemies who seek to destroy it."
The United Kingdom announced that it was suspending negotiations on a free trade agreement with Israel and summoned Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely to explain the escalation of Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.
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