EU backs Palestine despite ongoing Israeli arms sales

As the Middle East reels from the US-Israeli war on Iran, the EU has highlighted its support for the Palestinian Authority (PA) and a two-state solution, according to the Middle East Eye and agencies on April 20th.

Support was expressed at the “Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution” meeting, where support for the PA was highlighted amid efforts by the US-backed “Board of Peace” to sideline the organisation.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said, “We can and must do more to ensure respect for human rights and accountability, to protect the Palestinian people and to put the two-state solution solidly on the table again.”

Under the two-state solution, an independent Palestinian state would be established alongside Israel along the borders established in 1967.

However, Israel has seemingly rejected this plan through its expansion of Jewish-only settlements in the Occupied Territories under the “Greater Israel” initiative, where Israel’s territory would expand beyond the 1967 borders.

Some argue that the Palestinians’ right to self-determination is undermined by foreign governments demanding Hamas’ disarmament and expulsion, while only recognising the PA as the Palestinians’ representatives, despite the PA being unpopular among the Palestinian population.

Despite expressing support for Palestinian rights, the EU and several European nations have faced allegations of complicity in war crimes over their continued arms exports to Israel amid Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier, accounting for roughly 47% of Israeli exports, while the US accounts for the remaining 53%.

France and the Czech Republic have also continued arms shipments to Israel since 2023; in March, Denmark’s Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit alleging the country was complicit in human rights abuses by exporting arms to Israel.

Serbian arms exports to Israel have reached record levels since 2023, while defence contractors accused of complicity in war crimes, such as Lockheed Martin, Elbit Systems and Rafael, operate in Britain.

Outside of Europe, US arms shipments to Israel have continued, with the US State Department forgoing the mandatory Congressional Review to approve a munitions sale worth $151.8 million on March 6th.

Morocco has developed defence ties with Israel since officially normalising relations under the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020.

India reportedly discussed defence cooperation with Israel during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February state visit, during which he met his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Middle East Eye and agencies, Maghrebi.org