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Parliament Endorses Von der Leyen’s EU Measures on Israel as Member States Hold Back

The vote signals support for suspending trade preferences plus targeted sanctions, with action now hinging on a qualified majority of governments.

Overview

  • The European Parliament approved a non-binding resolution by 305–151 with 122 abstentions endorsing a partial suspension of the EUIsrael Association Agreement, sanctions on extremist ministers and violent settlers, and a pause in bilateral aid.
  • Implementation remains blocked at Council level, where a qualified majority is required and countries including Germany, Austria and Italy resist tougher steps.
  • In her State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen proposed the Gaza measures, announced a donor group for Palestinian reconstruction, and called the humanitarian situation in the enclave unacceptable.
  • Responding to a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace, she pledged stronger eastern‑flank defenses including an anti‑drone wall, trailed a 19th Russia sanctions package, and outlined plans to channel €6 billion from frozen Russian assets, plus a drone alliance and a Military Quantitative Advantage program for Ukraine.
  • Von der Leyen defended the summer deal with the United States that cut threatened tariffs from 30% to 15%, even as parties in the European Parliament prepare censure motions unlikely to clear the two‑thirds threshold.