Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday urged other European Union members to support Madrid and Ireland’s call for the suspension of the EU's free trade agreement with Israel, citing the country's actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Pedro Sanchez and Emmanuel Macron © Mena Today
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday urged other European Union members to support Madrid and Ireland’s call for the suspension of the EU's free trade agreement with Israel, citing the country's actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Spain and Ireland have been in talks with other EU nations for months, seeking a revision of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. They argue that Israel may be violating the human rights clause of the agreement in its conduct of military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
Since the start of the Gaza conflict on October 7, Sanchez has adopted a strongly critical stance towards Israel. This aligns with the long-standing position of Spain’s socialist party and its far-left allies.
Along with French President Emmanuel Macron, Sanchez has called for a halt to arms deliveries to Israel as a step towards achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
This position, however, appears unrealistic and even laughable, as Sanchez and Macron's approach ignores the broader geopolitical dynamics.
It's unlikely they will make similar requests for Iran to cease its arms shipments to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The stance of these European leaders highlights what many see as a form of diplomatic cowardice in addressing the complex conflicts in the Middle East.
By Michel Sfeir
Joe Biden is expected to use Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to wind down the war in Gaza, but in the waning months of his term the U.S. president may lack leverage to bend the Israeli leader to his will.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the Gaza war, was killed on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said.
The Israeli army has announced the death of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, just moments ago.
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