‘Chief of All Cowards’: Amnesty Slams EU as Spain Pushes to Review Israel Agreement
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Amnesty blasts EU as Spain, Ireland, Slovenia push to review Israel agreement over Gaza, Lebanon, and death penalty law.
Key Developments
- Amnesty accuses EU of complicity and failure to uphold international law.
- Spain, Ireland, Slovenia request EU review of association agreement with Israel.
- EU divisions persist, blocking consensus on suspension of agreement.
Amnesty: EU ‘Chief of All Cowards’
Amnesty International has sharply criticized the European Union’s stance toward Israel, accusing it of failing to uphold its own principles and enabling violations of international law.
Secretary-General Agnès Callamard described the bloc as “the chief of all cowards,” saying it has failed to apply consistent standards in addressing alleged violations by Israel.
“They failed to hold on to the values at the heart of the European project. They failed to stop the military transfers to a genocidal government,” she said in a statement.
Callamard added that the EU’s inaction represents “the most damning indictment” of its leadership and commitment to international law.
EU States Push to Review Israel Agreement
Amid this criticism, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia have called on the European Union to discuss suspending its association agreement with Israel, citing concerns over human rights violations and escalating regional tensions.
In a joint letter sent on April 17 to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the three countries urged that the issue be placed on the agenda of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, European media reported.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the request reflects growing concern over developments in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as Israeli policies that the three states say violate international law.
The letter highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, where continued ceasefire violations and an Israeli-imposed siege have further deepened the crisis.
It also raised alarm over a recently introduced Israeli law that would impose the death penalty exclusively on Palestinians convicted in Israeli military courts.
The three countries said such measures “contravene human rights and violate international law and international humanitarian law.”
Albares said, “I expect every European country to uphold what the International Court of Justice and the UN say on human rights and the defense of international law. Anything different would be a defeat for the European Union.”
‘No Broad Consensus’
Despite Spain’s push, there is currently no consensus within the European Union to suspend the agreement.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez renewed calls to break the EU-Israel association agreement following a political gathering in Spain, accusing Israel of violating international law and the terms of the accord.
However, diplomats told Euronews that EU member states are expected to push back against the proposal during the foreign ministers’ meeting.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged that a unified position among member states would be required to move forward, while noting that “there is no broad consensus” at present.
Countries such as Germany and Italy have not shifted their positions. The Italian government said it would take a “serious and balanced approach,” stressing that any decision should not harm Israeli civilians.
Other states support further discussion but do not expect an immediate outcome.
A proposal by the European Commission to partially suspend the agreement, including its trade component, has also stalled due to similar divisions, with key member states blocking the required majority.
Deep Divisions Stall Action
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, signed in 1995, governs trade and cooperation and conditions the partnership on respect for human rights.
Yet internal divisions continue to prevent action.
More than one million European citizens have called for suspension through a cross-border petition, but this has not translated into political consensus.
At the same time, discussions continue over possible sanctions targeting Israeli settlers in the West Bank. While most EU countries support such measures, opposition from Hungary has delayed their adoption.
Kallas said that “settler crimes need to be punished,” suggesting the issue may be revisited depending on political shifts within member states.
(PC, European reports, Euronews)
