‘An accomplice’: Germany with history textbooks full of regrets is now blocking justice for Gaza

The European Union is struggling with a major disagreement among its members over possible penalties against Israel due to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

A plan by the European Commission to partly suspend Israel’s involvement in the highly important Horizon research program, meant to address Israel’s suspected violations of human rights commitments, is running into an unexpected obstacle. Normally, Trump and the U.S. keep things light on Israel, but this time it’s Germany.

The European Commission’s proposal focuses on partially limiting Israel’s access to Horizon, a vital research and development program that drives technological progress and supports many startups. This step comes after a thorough review by the Commission, which found that Israel had broken its human rights obligations under its long-term partnership agreement with the EU.

According to Politico, the Commission’s decision points directly to Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which clearly says that respecting human rights and democratic values is a “fundamental part” of the entire deal. This key rule supports every aspect of the EU-Israel relationship, including science and technology cooperation. The review’s conclusions suggest a major departure from these agreed principles, leading to the proposed suspension as a necessary response.

EU won’t punish Israel until Germany gets on board

Talks among EU ambassadors on Tuesday showed that there was not enough support to move forward with the suspension right away. A qualified majority, which usually means backing from at least 15 of the 27 member states representing at least 65% of the EU’s population, was missing. This lack of agreement highlights how delicate and complicated the issue is, with different member states having different views on what should be done.

Most importantly, Germany’s position is becoming the deciding factor in this process. Diplomats say that Berlin is leaning more toward supporting such a sanction against Israel, a change linked to the distressing and ongoing reports of starvation and violence in Gaza. However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has not yet officially approved the EU’s proposed sanctions, leaving the next steps unclear.

Germany’s stance is especially significant because of its long-standing support for Israel’s security and its usual hesitation to take steps that could be seen as punishing Israel. Its possible shift, driven by the extreme humanitarian crisis in Gaza, suggests a growing moral pressure within the EU.

Work on the Horizon suspension proposal continues in Brussels, with officials trying to gather more support in the days and weeks ahead. The timing for a final decision is still uncertain, with possible delays stretching past the summer due to staff vacations in EU institutions and embassies in August.