Ursula von der Leyen calls for suspension of EU trade with Israel

"In her most extended condemnation yet of the Israeli government, von der Leyen criticised plans for illegal settlements that would split the occupied West Bank in half, as well as incitement of violence by extremist Israeli ministers, as a clear attempt to undermine the two-state solution. She made the remarks during her annual state of the union speech to the European parliament in Strasbourg, during which she depicted a turbulent world, where battle lines are being drawn and dependencies are ruthlessly weaponised."

"Von der Leyen continued, calling for Europe to exert more pressure on the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to come to the negotiation table. It was a pugnacious speech after a bruising summer when von der Leyen received heavy criticism for the EU's approach to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, as well as her much-criticised trade deal with Donald Trump, while forest fires intensified by the climate crisis consumed European land equivalent to one third of the size of Belgium."

Ursula von der Leyen urged suspension of the trade elements of the EU-Israel association agreement and a freeze of bilateral support to Israel except for civil society funds and Yad Vashem. She condemned plans for illegal settlements that would split the occupied West Bank and criticised extremist Israeli ministers for incitement that undermines the two-state solution. The Commission will table proposals for trade suspension and draft sanctions on extremist ministers and violent settlers. Von der Leyen also called for increased pressure on Vladimir Putin after Russian airspace violations and expressed solidarity with Poland, while noting criticism over the EU's Gaza response and other policy challenges.

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