European Left Alliance urges EU ministers to suspend Israel agreement

The European Left Alliance on Monday called on EU foreign ministers to immediately suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, saying a citizens’ initiative demanding action on Palestine had collected more than 1 million signatures.

In a joint statement issued ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday, the alliance said the European Citizens’ Initiative Justice for Palestine had exceeded the required threshold in less than three months.

According to the group, the initiative also passed the national signature threshold in 11 EU member states, above the minimum of seven required under EU rules.

“This is the loudest democratic mandate the European Union has received on its foreign policy in years, and it leaves the Foreign Affairs Council with no excuse to delay any longer,” the alliance said in a statement.

The group accused Israel of continuing “to wage a genocide in Gaza,” intensifying “illegal annexation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” and carrying out strikes on Lebanon.

It argued that the actions constituted “systematic, documented violations of international humanitarian law, human rights, and of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.”

“The European Left Alliance demands that the Council immediately fully suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement,” the statement said.