"Two former senior EU officials, speaking separately, criticised the decision not to move forward with sanctions. Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, a former EU representative to the Palestinian territories, told the Guardian that Kallas missed the point on legal accountability. Sanctions are not just a measure to induce or coerce a third party to change or adjust its behaviour. Restrictive measures are part of the tools the EU has given itself to react to breaches of both European and international law, he said."
"The EU concluded in June that Israel had breached human rights obligations under their association agreement, which governs trade and cooperation between the two sides. Lawyers say the EU is also obliged to ensure policy is compliant with a non-binding opinion from international court of justice in 2024 requiring Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories as soon as possible."
The EU paused efforts to suspend preferential trade with Israel and to impose sanctions on individuals deemed responsible for fuelling the conflict, citing a changed context and a fragile ceasefire. European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ministers agreed not to proceed now but not to remove measures from consideration. Two former senior EU officials criticised the decision, arguing sanctions serve legal accountability and respond to breaches of European and international law. The EU concluded in June that Israel breached human rights obligations under the association agreement, and lawyers cite an international court opinion requiring an end to occupation as soon as possible.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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