The European Union’s failure to hold Israel to account for violations of international law in Gaza has blown a gaping hole through its claims to be a values-based defender of international rules, democracy and human rights. Accusations of double standards have come hard and fast from governments in the global south, with many contrasting Europe’s unequivocal condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with its reluctance to call out Israel’s devastation of Gaza.
“Rarely will anyone soon in the global south listen when western politicians insist on international law,” the Middle East analyst Amro Ali argued recently. This is the kind of observation that causes justifiable concern in Brussels.
Yet for all the criticism of the carte blanche offered to Israel as it hit back against Hamas following the 7 October attack, I have no difficulty believing that many governments in Asia, Africa and the Middle East will continue to do business with the EU, buying its goods and weapons or, like Egypt and Tunisia, taking EU cash in exchange for tougher controls on migrants…..more
