Overview

• Ursula von der Leyen announced the suspension of all EU bilateral payments to Israel, with cooperation with Israeli civil society groups and Yad Vashem continuing.
• She said the Commission will propose sanctions against extremist ministers and violent settlers and will recommend suspending certain trade and partnership provisions.
• The Commission cites violations of human rights and international humanitarian law under the EU–Israel association framework as the legal basis for the freeze.
• Implementation depends on a qualified majority in the Council, with Germany opposing the measures as many other large and smaller member states signal support.
• In the same speech, von der Leyen pressed for greater European autonomy and a Ukraine loan tied to liquid portions of frozen Russian assets, even as she faces mounting parliamentary pressure over the Trump trade deal and new no-confidence efforts.