Rather than suspend trade or impose an arms embargo, the EU floated “restrictive measures” targeting Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The idea is to deny them visas and potentially freeze their bank accounts. As if these two men, open advocates of settler violence and ethnic cleansing, are desperate for a Paris weekend or a Barclays checking account.
Trade with Israel remains uninterrupted, even though Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement commits both parties to upholding human rights. That clause now lives in press releases, not policy.
The EU has demonstrated its ability to impose sanctions. It moved swiftly against Russia, Belarus, and Iran. But when it comes to Israel, the political will mysteriously evaporates, replaced by statements about “monitoring the situation closely”.
Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, writing in Haaretz, called the EU’s response “a diplomatic charade,” arguing that Europe prioritises political alliances over human rights. “They know what’s happening in Gaza”, he wrote, “but choose silence wrapped in statements”.
Israel is not a rogue partner. It is embedded in Western systems. A military outpost, a tech exporter, a surveillance innovator. A client state with benefits. The United States sends over $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel annually. European nations continue to sell weapons and collaborate with Israeli intelligence. From crowd-control tools to cyber weapons, much of what Israel develops through occupation is exported globally. Germany, citing “historical responsibility”, has long blocked tougher EU action. But no nation can absolve one crime by underwriting another. Diplomatically, Israel serves as the West’s proxy in the Middle East. It amplifies anti-Iran messaging, aligns with anti-Islamist narratives, and reinforces a decades-old colonial framework. That’s why its war crimes are “regrettable,” but never actionable. When Russia bombs Ukraine, the West calls for tribunals. When Israel bombs Gaza, it calls for “restraint”. This is not just a double standard. It is the standard. And Israel knows how to exploit it.
The West’s reckoning with Israel is a façade designed to soothe outrage without disrupting the status quo. When Netanyahu sees EU leaders agonise over visa bans while continuing arms cooperation and trade, he doesn’t feel pressure. He feels vindicated. Smotrich can threaten famine. Ben Gvir can stoke settler violence. And Netanyahu? He waits — and he laughs. Real pressure would mean suspending trade, ending arms sales, and referring Israeli leaders to the ICC. But instead, the West chooses statements over sanctions and spectacle over substance. Until words carry consequences, Israel will continue its war with impunity, and Gaza will continue to burn.
Source: MIDDLE EAST MONITOR
