Sánchez criticizes EU for double standards towards Israel and Russia

(Patria) - The European Union's failure to sanction Israel for its military actions in Gaza and Lebanon undermines its collective credibility and legitimacy in defending Ukraine from the Russian invasion, warned Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Sánchez has once again condemned what he calls the European Union's double standards due to its readiness to punish Russia, but its hesitation to do the same with Israel, Euronews reports.

- What delegitimizes us, not only in the eyes of the outside world, but also in the eyes of our own societies, are these double standards that Europe applies in Ukraine and the Middle East - Sánchez stated yesterday in Cyprus.

His warning comes days after a renewed Spanish attempt to suspend the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel, in response to deadly attacks on Lebanon, met with widespread opposition from other member states.

Germany and Italy, whose votes are crucial for achieving the necessary qualified majority for partial suspension, remain abstained.

Sánchez presented his position to fellow EU leaders at an informal summit in Cyprus. On that occasion, he pointed to an internal Brussels review that found Israel had violated Article 2 of the Association Agreement, which imposes an obligation to respect human rights.

The review was published last year in the context of the Israeli war in Gaza, which caused a devastating humanitarian crisis and led to several proposals for sanctioning Israel, but none were ever approved by member states. Lebanon was not covered by that review.

- We cannot be united in supporting the people of Ukraine, who are facing an attempted invasion and the threat to their territorial integrity, without doing the same in the Middle East. Especially when we talk about Lebanon, Palestine, Gaza, and the West Bank.

Unfortunately, some governments are for it, and others are against it. There is no unity on this issue, and the consequence is the weakening of the European Union's position, at least in terms of our political legitimacy and credibility in defending just causes like the Ukrainian one - Sánchez said.

He also emphasized that the EU was founded as a "peace project" and therefore should loudly demand "respect for international law".

- If we don't do that, the law of the strongest prevails, which is what we are witnessing. This leads to a weaker, much more insecure, and uncertain world - Sánchez stated, referring to the US-Israeli decision to attack Iran, which he has repeatedly condemned as "illegal".

- In the end, the price is paid in human lives, displacement of refugees, and, of course, economic consequences that all governments are now unfortunately facing due to unilateral and illegal decisions by third countries - Sánchez concluded.

Israel has long rejected Spanish criticism, claiming that its military offensives in Gaza and Lebanon are designed to eliminate threats posed by Hamas and Hezbollah, groups supported by Iran.

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been extended for another three weeks.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who also participated in the summit in Cyprus, called on the EU to do more to preserve the "peace, stability, and sovereignty" of Lebanon.

European officials fear that the continuation of the offensive on Lebanon could jeopardize the government's efforts to disarm Hezbollah and trigger a new wave of migration.