Head Of European Union Proposes Sanctions, Israeli Foreign Minister: Very Regrettable

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. (Wikimedia Commons/DedaSasha)

JAKARTA - Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar regretted the announcement of plans for EU Head Ursula von der Leyen to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers and suspend some association agreements.

Foreign Minister Sa'ar said the statement strengthened Hamas and ignored Israel's efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"The comments of the President of the European Commission this morning are very regrettable," Foreign Minister Sa'ar wrote on social media X, launching The Times of Israel September 10.

"Once again, Europe conveyed the wrong message that strengthened Hamas and the radical axis in the Middle East," he said.

Von der Leyen once said, "Human-made Agriculture could never be a weapons of war," referring to allegations of widespread hunger in the Gaza Strip due to Israel's refusal to ensure aid distribution as part of its war strategy.

Foreign Minister Sa'ar denied the statement, writing some of his statements (von der Leyen) "also polluted by echoing the fake propaganda of Hamas and its partners."

"The president is well aware of Israel's efforts" to help the humanitarian situation in Gaza," he continued, while writing the progress "proved in the field, including a drastic drop in the prices of basic necessities in Gaza."

As previously reported, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said it would propose sanctions against extremist Israeli ministers and suspension of trade-related measures in the EU agreement with Israel.

The proposal, announced by von der Leyen in a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, reflects growing EU criticism of Israel's behavior in the war in Gaza, as well as increasing pressure on the bloc's executive body to take action.

"What happened in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world," von der Leyen said in his official speech, an annual address setting his priorities for the coming year.

The proposal requires broad or unanimous support from EU member states, which are likely to be difficult to achieve as the bloc is heavily divided over the Middle East. However, von der Leyen confirmed the proposal was also intended as a political signal.

He acknowledged there was a split in Europe regarding Gaza, but promised the Commission would do whatever it could.

"We will propose sanctions to extremist ministers and settlers who commit violence. And we will also propose suspending part of the Association Agreement on issues related to trade," he explained.

However, von der Leyen did not name the minister or elaborate which "trade-related actions" the Commission would propose to be suspended.

The European Union is Israel's largest trading partner, with trading between the two reaching 42.6 billion euros last year, according to the European Union.

According to a July option document compiled by EU diplomatic services, the suspension of the entire trade chapter in the Association Agreement governing relations with Israel will lift trading preferences for Israeli products entering the European Union.

The suspension requires eligible majority votes among EU governments - support from 15 of the 27 EU members representing 65 percent of the EU population.

EU members, including Ireland, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, have called for a suspension of the EU-free trade pact with Israel. However, other countries such as Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic opposed these measures.

Meanwhile, EU sanctions against individuals require unanimous support from member states. Hungary has blocked existing proposals to impose sanctions on settlers who commit violence.

"I am aware it will be difficult to find the majority of the votes. And I know that any action will be too heavy for one party, and too small for the other. However, we must all take responsibility," said von der Leyen.

The Commission will suspend its bilateral support for Israel, without affecting cooperation with Israeli civil society and Yad Vashem, Israel's main Holocaust memorial center. He did not provide details on the magnitude of the funds to be affected.