Clash in the European Parliament. Pérez (S&D): “The EPP is opposing a debate on Netanyahu’s atrocities”

From our correspondent in Strasburg – A clash is unfolding in the European Parliament over a call to debate in the plenary session on 27–30 April “the atrocities committed by Netanyahu”: the chair of the Group of Socialists and Democrats, Iratxe García Pérez, has condemned the opposition of the European People’s Party (EPP) to open a debate on the State of Israel’s responsibilities towards the Palestinian people: “In this Parliament, we are the only group that has called for a debate on how to address the atrocities committed by Netanyahu, including the death penalty imposed on Palestinians: the EPP voted against this initiative.” 

On this matter, the co-president of The Left, the French Manon Aubry, stated in no uncertain terms that her parliamentary group had, almost single-handedly, been pushing for debates and resolutions for more than two years following the declaration that the West Bank, as established by Israel, was illegal: “It is clear that other groups will always side with the State of Israel and I see no prospect of change on their part” – commented Aubry on the opposition of the People’s Group. 

Valérie Hayer, chair of Renew, is playing for time, ruling out immediate support for the call for a debate: “We are not ready to back this discussion. Rather, we need to find a way to address such a sensitive issue calmly.”

The appeal from the Socialists and the Left: sanctions and suspension of the agreement

The Socialists’ broader stance on the EU’s relations with the State of Israel aims to secure “a majority that will bring about the suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel, impose sanctions on the Israeli government, and establish a common position within the Council in favour of an arms embargo.” In her statement, Pérez offered a critical assessment of the European response to the situation in the Middle East: two months on from the war launched by Trump and Netanyahu against Iran, there is still no peace, and the results are “nothing but destruction and an unprecedented global crisis.” According to the Socialist leader, the European Union has “failed in the Middle East: both on the energy crisis and on the inflation crisis; meanwhile, there is widespread violence in Gaza, which has also increased in the West Bank. Furthermore, the conflict has spread to Lebanon.” In Friday’s pre-plenary briefing, S&D spokesperson Utta Tuttlies expressed regret regarding the decision by the Foreign Affairs Council not to proceed with the suspension of the agreement, and called for the proposal to be put to a vote “without further delay.” 

The Left group took a similar line: during the same briefing, spokesperson Thomas Shannon criticised the lack of any debate on suspending the EU-Israel agreement, “despite the introduction of the new death penalty law and over a million European citizens having signed a petition to that effect.” Shannon also accused the EU of maintaining an ambiguous stance, arguing that “the EU continues to treat Israel as an excellent trading partner, thereby making itself complicit in genocide.” On the sidelines of today’s European Parliament proceedings, Aubry pressed the point in even harsher terms, stating that “Benjamin Netanyahu will not stop on his own, and the only solution is pressure from the international community and the European Union.” The co-president of The Left denounced the disparity in treatment compared to the Russian situation: “The EU is deciding on a 21st package of sanctions against Putin’s Russia, but there is not the slightest hint of sanctions against the Israeli government which, having committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, is preparing to do the same in Lebanon, bombing civilians, rescue workers, and journalists”. The MEP pointed out that unanimity is not required to adopt sanctions, as a qualified majority is sufficient, adding that seven Member States have already requested them, and lamenting that “France lacks diplomatic courage.”