In the wake of the escalating situation in Gaza, the international initiative called “My Voice, My Choice” has launched a petition calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement. Israel is an economically strong partner, and this kind of reckless “soloing” by the Slovenian government will further jeopardise the country’s economic interests.
According to experts, the Slovenian government’s playing games with developments in the Middle East, which do not concern Slovenia, will have consequences for Slovenian politics and, above all, the Slovenian economy. For the purposes of domestic politics, they have betrayed a number of partners in their candidacy for a non-permanent membership of the Security Council, which operates within the UN, and instead of being on the Western side of the world, we are among the supporters of theocratic and terrorist regimes.
With his recent support for the petition to suspend the trade agreement between Israel and the European Union, Prime Minister Golob has further inflamed the political space. The petition demands that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas should immediately call for the suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement. Kallas is leading a review of Israeli human rights violations, which is scheduled to take place until Monday, but the petitioners believe that there is no reason why the suspension should wait.
“When innocent civilians are being killed, when innocent children are being massacred, it is our duty to speak out. Together, we can make a difference,” said Nika Kovač, Director of the 8th of March Institute (Inštitut 8. marec), at an online press conference.
“Slovenia has a place in the EU, the UN Security Council and NATO, but one country cannot do everything. If we can convince enough world leaders, then maybe we can take the first step,” said Prime Minister Golob. He pointed out that the UN efforts are blocked by the USA and that the EU, he said, still has the possibility to take the first step and abandon the agreement with Israel. “I expect the European Commission to present a report this week which will make it clear that Israel is violating international humanitarian law. If this is the case, European leaders have no choice but to suspend the agreement,” the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) quoted him as saying.
C. Š.
