EU Divided on Israel Sanctions

0:00On April 22nd, EU Foreign Ministers shot down a push to partially suspend the Association Agreement with Israel. Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia led the charge, but they couldn't round up enough support from the other 27 member states. The EU stays divided on slapping sanctions on Israel, amid the crisis in Gaza, and rising settler violence in the West Bank. Kaja, Kolas, the EU's top diplomat, made it clear after Tuesday's meeting that the ideas still alive on the table, but positions got a shift for it to happen. Discussions will keep rolling. Meanwhile, the EU's gearing up to hit around with fresh sanctions over threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to lock those in by May. Spain's foreign minister called out Israel's endless warpath, while Belgium stressed the need for sanctions against unprecedented West Bank attacks. And even Israel's death penalty vote, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez joined the course, urging a full end to the deal. Groups like Amnesty International slammed the EU for a moral fail, with over a million

1:01people and hundreds of diplomats piling on the pressure. A partial suspension just needs 15 states with 65% of the population, so big players like Germany or Italy flipping could make it. Real, France and Sweden won tariffs on West Bank settlement goods pronto, and Kala's plans to push that with trade bosses. Norway's minister highlighted Israel with holding Palestinian tax revenues, stressing legal duties under international law. Israel fired back hard, with their foreign minister blasting Spain's leader for hypocrisy and ties to bad actors. As talks simmer and lines harden, the EU's walking a tightrope on values, trade, and Middle East peace.