{"id":4145,"date":"2025-06-23T13:23:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T13:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/developeternal.com\/?p=4145"},"modified":"2025-06-23T13:57:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T13:57:51","slug":"eu-state-calls-for-sanctions-on-israelis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/developeternal.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/23\/eu-state-calls-for-sanctions-on-israelis\/","title":{"rendered":"EU state calls for sanctions on Israelis"},"content":{"rendered":"
Spain is urging Brussels to halt the bloc\u2019s association agreement with Israel \u201cimmediately,\u201d according to Foreign Minister Jos Manuel Albares<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Spain\u2019s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, has said Spain will call on EU foreign ministers to \u201cimmediately suspend\u201d<\/em> the EU\u2011Israel association agreement and seek a ban on arms sales to Israel, citing concerns of human rights violations in Gaza.<\/p>\n The trade relationship between the 27\u2011member bloc and Israel, worth \u20ac68 billion ($73 billion), is set up under an agreement signed in 1995. The EU is Israel\u2019s largest commercial partner, accounting for roughly one-third of its international trade.\u00a0<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters ahead of the EU foreign ministers\u2019 meeting with in Brussels on Monday, Albares called for the immediate suspension of the agreement, saying \u201cthis is the time for action\u201d<\/em> and that continued violations of human rights in Gaza demanded a firm European response.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the Association Agreement is based on human rights, it\u2019s the most normal thing that we suspend the Association Agreement immediately today,\u201d<\/em> he stated.<\/p>\n The minister said he would formally request the suspension of the deal, \u201can embargo on selling weapons to Israel, and the list of people that are being sanctioned to everyone who wants to be a spoiler of the two-state solution.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Spain\u2019s demands reflect broader unease across Europe. The UK, France, and the Netherlands have also considered slapping trade and arms restrictions on Israel in recent months. In May, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there was \u201ca strong majority\u201d<\/em> among member states in favor of reviewing the agreement.<\/p>\n The pivot from one of the Jewish state\u2019s staunchest supporters comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and growing frustration in Brussels over Israel\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n