Barry Andrews Presses EU to Curb Trade with Illegal Settlements

Andrews contends that the Council is using the upcoming October Israeli elections as a pretext for inaction. He fears this delay will extend indefinitely through a lengthy government formation period, effectively granting a green light for further settlement expansion in East Jerusalem and continued hostilities in Gaza. For the Renew MEP, the advisory opinion from the ICJ provides a clear legal mandate that the European Union can no longer ignore.

During a visit to the West Bank this past May, Andrews witnessed firsthand the conditions he now describes as apartheid. He characterizes the current situation as a systematic effort to suffocate Palestinian life by restricting housing, commercial activity, and basic rights. By pushing for a shift in trade policy, he aims to force the Commission to move beyond diplomatic statements and fulfill what he views as a binding international obligation to protect Palestinian territories.