Will the EU sanction Israel?
The
European Union
has some lofty goals when it comes to human rights.
The EU is said to be 'based on a strong commitment to promote and protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law both within the EU and worldwide'.
The
bloc's policies
comprise the inclusion of human rights clauses in all agreements on trade and co-operation with non-EU countries.
There are such clauses in the EU's 'association agreement' with
Israel
which includes a free trade deal.
READ MORE
However, do not expect the EU to invoke the clauses to suspend trade with Israel despite
its war
in
Gaza
where the death toll has passed 56,000 according to the
Hamas
-run health authorities.
Israel's actions are seen by many in Europe as a disproportionate response to the Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023, when 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
But,
as Pat Leahy and Jack Power report in our lead story
, pro-Israel countries, including Germany and Italy, are set to block efforts by Ireland and other member states to take action against Israel over its war in
Gaza
at today's summit of
EU
leaders in Brussels.
Several member states, also including
Austria
, the
Czech Republic
and
Hungary
, will not agree for the EU to take action despite a recent review of an EU-Israel trade agreement that found Israel was committing human rights violations in conflict with it.
Ireland and other countries favour taking action, up to and including suspending the trade agreement with Israel, but officials accept that any move to sanction Israel at the summit would likely be blocked.
Several capitals traditionally supportive of Israel opposed the review even being mentioned in a joint statement – or 'conclusions' – that would be signed by all 27 national leaders.
It is expected, however, that the conclusion will point to the 'dire' humanitarian situation in
Gaza
, and diplomats said the focus was likely to be on pressuring Israel to allow aid into the enclave rather than for any sanctions.
Taoiseach
Micheál Martin
said the EU's inability to reach a unified position on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
is a 'huge stain' on the union
.
At home, the Government published a summary of its proposed legislation to prohibit the sale of Israeli goods
produced in the occupied Palestinian territories
.
As expected, it makes no reference to services being subject to a similar ban. This drew criticism from pro-Palestinian campaigners and Opposition parties.
The summary, or 'heads' of the Bill, will now be sent for pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee.
Regardless of whether services ends up being included in the Bill, it will be a small gesture by a small country in opposition to how Israel treats the Palestinian people.
While the Government hopes other countries might follow suit with similar measures, it will not have the same impact as collective EU sanctions against Israel.
Lofty words on human rights notwithstanding, the prospect of this happening seems remote.
Best reads
How did Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan fare when he filled in for the Taoiseach at Leaders' Questions on Wednesday?
Miriam Lord writes that there was 'a new sheriff in town'
and 'expectations were modest'.
Jack White details how Tánaiste Simon Harris promised an 'expansionary package' in the budget and said the VAT rate for small businesses will be reduced permanently
as he addressed Fine Gael's parliamentary party
meeting on Wednesday evening.
Investors in Israeli bonds approved by the Irish Central Bank risk being legally complicit in genocide in
Gaza
, a
Social Democrats
TD has claimed in a letter to its governor.
Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee report
.
Officials first became aware of an error which could lead to Ministers and
civil servants
owing thousands of euro to the State in 2017, eight years before it became public, the Oireachtas committee on finance was told.
Jack Horgan-Jones' reports the story on the meeting
.
Playbook
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is due to take parliamentary questions in the Dáil from 8.47am.
Patrick O'Donovan, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, is up next at 10.23am.
Leaders' Questions is at noon.
Government business in the afternoon is a second stage debate on the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 from 1.52pm.
TDs have an opportunity to raise topical issues from 5.26pm.
A Sinn Féin Bill on transparency and social value in public procurement will be debated from 6.26pm.
There will be statements on nursing homes and the care of older people in the Seanad from 11.30am.
Senators will debate proposed changes to the Local Property Tax regime from 1.30pm.
The Committee on Children will meet the Ombudsman for Children at 9.30am.
The Garda Commissioner is due before the public accounts committee (PAC) at 9:30am.
The Committee on Defence and National Security is due to continue its pre-legislative scrutiny of the heads of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 – the Government legislation aiming at scrapping the triple lock for overseas troop deployments – at 9.30am.
The full Dáil, Seanad and Committee schedules can be found
here
.
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