The EU Commission offers commercial limits with Israel during the Gaza War

The European Commission has unveiled plans to restrict trade with Israel and impose sanctions on the extremist ministers of its government, which – if it was adopted – would be the most difficult EU response to the war in Gaza.

The plans, followed by the president of the Ursula von der Leyen commission last week, suspend the provisions linked to the trade of the agreement of the European Association.

This would eliminate Israeli property of privileged access to European markets, with prices imposed on billions of euros in exports – in particular agricultural products such as dates and citrus.

But despite the energetic language, the measures seem unlikely to pass and were rejected by Israel as “morally and politically distorted”.

Trade restrictions require the approval of the qualified majority of the Member States, while sanctions against individuals require unanimity.

Due to the objection of key members, including Germany and Italy, Ireland and Spain calling for much more difficult action, adoption seems unlikely.

The head of the EU foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, recognized the challenge to the European Council, saying to journalists: “The political lines are very where they have been so far.”

She said that the package also targeted “Hamas terrorists”, “extremist ministers” in the Israeli government and “colonists and violent entities supporting impunity in the West Bank”.

The EU is the number one number one trading partner, representing 32% of its exchange of goods in 2024, worth 42.6 billion euros (35.8 billion sterling pounds). However, the economic impact of the end of tariff preferences would be limited. Commerce commissioner Maroš Šefčovič estimated the effect at only 227 million euros per year.

The only measure immediately is the suspension of bilateral support in the Israeli government. But this is also largely symbolic with only 9.4 million euros out of 14 million euros allocated for 2020-24 – and does not require the approval of the Member States.

The Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Šuica stressed that the financing of the programs fighting against anti -Semitism and the support of civil society would not be affected.

The Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Saar rejected the commission’s proposals as “morally and politically distorted”, warning that actions against Israel would harm Europe’s own interests and promise that all measures taken against his country would be replied “in kind”.

It is not immediately clear when the measures are voted by members.