Germany and Italy reject proposal to suspend EU-Israel trade pact

EU Trade Agreement with Israel Put on Hold by Germany and Italy

The European Union has been unable to suspend its association agreement with Israel due to opposition from Germany and Italy. The decision comes after the EU had previously determined that Israel had breached human rights conditions outlined in the agreement.

According to reports, Germany and Italy have vetoed a proposal to suspend the trade deal, which was put forward by the EU. This means that the agreement remains in place for now, despite concerns over Israel’s compliance with its terms.

The association agreement between the EU and Israel was established in 2007 and aims to promote economic cooperation and deepen ties between the two parties. However, the agreement also includes human rights conditions that must be met by Israel.

In recent years, there have been reports of Israel breaching these conditions, including issues related to settlements and the treatment of Palestinians. The EU had previously called on Israel to take steps to address these concerns, but a formal suspension of the trade deal was not possible due to opposition from Germany and Italy.

The EU’s decision to block the proposal has left many wondering what the future holds for the association agreement with Israel. It remains to be seen how this will impact relations between the two parties and whether the EU will continue to push for compliance with its human rights conditions.

Source: Al Jazeera