Israel has told the EU it would be making a “huge mistake” if it partially suspends Israeli participation in flagship research programme Horizon Europe.
The European Commission put forward the proposal on Tuesday after the bloc found that Israel had breached a human rights clause that is enshrined in EU-Israel relations.
EU officials say a deal struck to allow more aid into Gaza has been insufficiently implemented by Israel and ministers are pushing for a strong response from the bloc.
Support for the measure from the Dutch government triggered a spat with Israel. Foreign Minister Casper Veldkamp also announced a visa ban on far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
“The [Dutch] government’s goal is crystal clear: the people of Gaza must be given immediate, unfettered, safe access to humanitarian aid,” Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X, as he expressed support for the EU Commission proposal.
In response, Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote on X that “it will be a huge mistake if EU takes such steps, especially in light of Israel’s ongoing and upgraded humanitarian efforts”.
The Netherlands is the second EU country to impose travel bans on the ministers after Slovenia took similar measures this month. The pair are champions of the Israeli settlement movement who support continuing the war in Gaza.
The clash on X between Mr Schoof and Mr Herzog is yet another signal of the deepening gulf between Europe and Israel. It comes after Israel on Monday banned access to Gaza at the last minute to a senior EU official in charge of humanitarian aid, Maciej Popowski.
The EU Commission has suggested suspending the participation of Israeli start-ups operating with dual-use technologies − such as in cybersecurity, drones and artificial intelligence − from an EU-funded accelerator programme. To be adopted, the proposal requires the backing of 15 of the bloc's 27 member states.
The measure is widely viewed as symbolic. It is the first concrete step taken by the EU in response to Israel's alleged breaches of international law the Gaza war. There has been growing international outrage over reports of mass famine in Gaza.
Mr Schoof said he also supports further measures against Israel, including “in the realm of trade” as well as “national measures to increase the pressure”.
In May, the Netherlands rallied support from a majority of member states to request that the EU's external action service (EEAS) conduct an internal review of Israel's compliance with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The demand came as alarm grew over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and violence against Palestinians at the hands of extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
On June 20, the EEAS circulated the result of its review, based on findings by international bodies such as the International Court of Justice and the UN. It found that Israel had indeed breached its human rights obligations in Gaza.
As a result, EU foreign affairs minister Kaja Kallas, suggested last month a list of 10 measures that could be taken against Israel. Most of them, including a full or partial suspension of Israel's participation in Horizon Europe, as well as suspending trade preferences, must first be tabled by the European Commission.
The measures were discussed at the last meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, but at the time, ministers decided to wait to see how Israel respected a deal struck with Ms Kallas to allow more aid into Gaza.
Israel has in the past days allowed more aid into Gaza, but the implementation of the deal has been deemed insufficient by the EU's humanitarian services.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
The past winners
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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