Israel warns EU of 'huge mistake' if research ties are suspended
The European Commission has put forward the proposal after the bloc found that Israel had breached a human rights clause that is enshrined in EU-Israel relations.
EU officials say a deal struck to allow more aid into Gaza has been insufficiently implemented by Israel and ministers are pushing for a concrete response from the bloc.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he supported the proposal to suspend the participation of Israeli start-ups operating with dual-use technologies − such as in cybersecurity, drones and artificial intelligence − from an EU-funded accelerator programme.
In response, Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote on X that, 'it will be a huge mistake if EU takes such steps, especially in light of Israel's ongoing and upgraded humanitarian efforts'.
To be adopted, the proposal requires the backing of 14 of the bloc's 27 member states.
The measure is widely viewed as symbolic and is not a sanction against Israel. It is the first concrete step taken by the EU in response to Israel's alleged breaches of international law the Gaza war. There has been growing international outrage over reports of mass famine in Gaza.
Mr Schoof also said he also supports further measures against Israel, including 'in the realm of trade' as well as 'national measures to increase the pressure'.
'The [Dutch] government's goal is crystal clear: the people of Gaza must be given immediate, unfettered, safe access to humanitarian aid,' Mr Schoof said.
In May, the Netherlands rallied support from a majority of member states to request that the EU's external action service (EEAS) conduct an internal review of Israel's compliance with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The demand came as alarm grew over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and violence against Palestinians at the hands of extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
On June 20, the EEAS circulated the result of its review, based on findings by international bodies such as the International Court of Justice and the UN. It found that Israel had indeed breached its human rights obligations in Gaza.
As a result, the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, suggested last month a list of 10 measures that could be taken against Israel. Most of them, including a full or partial suspension of Israel's participation in Horizon Europe, as well as suspending trade preferences, must first be tabled by the European Commission.
The measures were discussed at the last meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, but at the time, ministers decided to wait and see how Israel respected a deal struck with Ms Kallas to allow more aid into Gaza.
Israel has in the past days allowed more aid into Gaza, but the implementation of the deal has been deemed insufficient by the EU's humanitarian services.
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