The decision by EU member states to request a formal review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement puts the European Commission in an uncomfortable position.
The review – which comes as Israel intensifies its military campaign in Gaza – is expected to once more test relations between EU capitals and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whose unwavering support for Israel has long been opposed by some countries, including Ireland, Spain and France.
Von der Leyen's detractors have a long list of complaints: Her reluctance to condemn Israeli actions early in the war; her decision to keep a staff letter critical of her stance under wraps for over a year; and her silence in the face of allegations that Israel has violated international law.
The outcome of the formal review is sure to trigger further accusations of bias on her part.
While most member countries were reluctant to challenge von der Leyen's stance in the wake of Hamas' 7 October 2023 massacre in southern Israel, during which the terror group murdered about 1,200 people, the sentiment in capitals has clearly shifted amid reports of a potential famine in Gaza.
Von der Leyen can’t block the review but she can try to steer behind the scenes to ensure any subsequent proposals for action are blunted.
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