Israeli foreign minister in Brussels for first meeting with EU in three years

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar arrived in Brussels on Monday for a meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council . It is the first meeting of the council since its last session in 2022, after much insistence from some EU leaders. The Association Council is considered the highest diplomatic level at which the European Union and Israel hold talks. The council deals with economic and political agreements, among other things, and is part of an association agreement that the EU concluded with Israel in 2000.

During the summit, the Israeli foreign minister hopes to restore relations with other EU ministers during the summit, Reuters news agency reports. "I am looking for a constructive, open and honest dialogue," Saar told reporters ahead of the meeting. "We know how to deal with criticism," he said, adding that he believes criticism should not turn into "delegitimization, demonization or double standards." Minister Saar said that within the EU there are "very friendly countries" but also "less friendly countries."

The talks are not without controversy. Human rights organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) calls on the EU to make it clear to Israel that there will be “consequences for past and present abuses”. The organisation also believes that the council’s presidents should end their reluctance to address Israel’s war crimes. In a letter to EU leaders, 125 civil society organisations, including HRW, call for Israel to be punished with a possible suspension of the treaty.

Veldkamp: 'difficult problems'

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp (NSC) told the ANP news agency upon arrival in Brussels that the meeting should not become “a kind of tribunal” “in which we only criticize Israel and ignore the security concerns that Israel also has.” But “difficult political problems” will also be discussed during the council, Veldkamp said.

The talks will focus on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the changing dynamics between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Developments in Syria, Lebanon and Iran will also be discussed. Saar will co-chair the meeting in Brussels with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.