Minister sees EU divisions on Israel policy, says some countries may form action group

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) said Saturday that a small group of EU countries may align on measures against Israel, but he acknowledged deep divisions among member states. He spoke ahead of an informal meeting with EU colleagues in Copenhagen.

“How many countries want to form such a core group is still unclear,” Brekelmans said. “That will not only have to be considered today, but also in the coming period.” He expressed little hope that EU ministers will reach a joint position, calling the debate “polarizing,” but added he hopes “countries at least come a little closer together” during the meeting.

Estonian EU foreign chief Kaja Kallas also said she is “not very optimistic” that the 27 ministers will agree on punitive measures against Israel. Brekelmans agreed: “She is the one who has the best overview of all positions.”

Brekelmans said some countries are adjusting their stances due to the E1 settlement near Jerusalem, which he said makes a Palestinian state nearly impossible. “Second, the situation in Gaza worsens every day,” he added.

On Wednesday, Brekelmans and his Swedish counterpart sent a joint letter to Kallas urging increased pressure on Israel. They requested suspending the trade portion of the EU-Israel cooperation agreement, adding two Israeli ministers to the EU sanctions list, and taking further action against violent settlers.

They also supported a European Commission proposal to temporarily bar Israel from the EU’s largest research and innovation program, Horizon, and called for stronger measures against Hamas.

Brekelmans cautioned that even if EU measures are adopted, their impact on Israel will likely be limited. “Ultimately, it will not be decisive and will only make a small contribution. We have to be realistic about that, but a limited contribution is always better than nothing.”

Ukraine was also on the agenda. Brekelmans noted that Russia launched another heavy attack on Ukraine in the night from Friday to Saturday, emphasizing the need for continued international pressure. “I believe Russia and Putin want to continue their aggression and terror to try to break the Ukrainian population,” he said.

Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) has assumed the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs following the resignation of all Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC) ministers and state secretaries on August 22, after Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp quit in protest over blocked sanctions against Israel.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands is hosting researchers and journalists from conflict zones under the Safe Haven Fellows program of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS), part of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

A journalist and a scholar from the Gaza Strip, along with a Turkish cartoonist, have arrived in the Netherlands to continue their work. They will join a group of several dozen international researchers in Amsterdam.

Hazem Abu-Orf, an associate professor at the University of Palestine, will research circular economy in vulnerable communities after his campus was heavily damaged by Israeli bombings early last year. Journalist Rita Baroud, who previously reported for NRC on conditions in Gaza, will study citizen journalism in war zones. Turkish cartoonist Zehra Ömeroğlu will work on a book about censorship.

Jan Willem Duyvendak, director of NIAS, said the next round of fellowships begins in February, with more than 400 applicants—including several Americans—vying for three positions.

“The United States was until recently the benchmark for academic freedom worldwide. Now a growing number of scholars feel so unsafe that they flee the country. They can no longer conduct their work without fear,” Duyvendak said.

The program began in 2022 for researchers from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. Last year, it expanded to other conflict areas in cooperation with Maastricht University and the University of Amsterdam.