The EU’s failing credibility on the Middle East

The diplomatic cost of this stance is becoming increasingly tangible. Germany’s recent failure to secure a seat on the U.N. Security Council is widely viewed as a consequence of Berlin’s unwavering support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. By providing political cover to Israel while ignoring the systematic expansion of West Bank settlements, the EU has undermined its own influence. Partners now openly question the sincerity of European trade agreements that include human rights clauses when the EU fails to enforce Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement despite clear violations.

Under the upcoming Irish presidency of the Council of the EU, there is an opening to shift this trajectory. Concrete steps must include a legislative ban on imports from illegal settlements, as suggested by the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion. Beyond trade, the Union should consider sanctions against those facilitating settlement expansion and move toward a suspension of the Association Agreement itself. With over 1.2 million citizens signing a European Citizens' Initiative demanding accountability, the pressure on Brussels to implement an arms embargo and protect EU-funded infrastructure is mounting. Failure to act now risks leaving the bloc’s diplomatic credibility in permanent decline.