Top EU diplomat proposes suspending political dialogue with Israel

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell has proposed that EU member states suspend political dialogue with Israel over its war in the Gaza Strip, an EU diplomatic source told dpa on Wednesday.

Borrell is basing his proposal on assessments by independent international agencies that allege Israel has violated human rights and international humanitarian law in the Palestinian territory.

The initiative, which was put forward in a meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday, is now to be discussed at a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday in Brussels.

Political dialogue with Israel is regulated by the EU-Israel Association Agreement that went into force in 2000.

The agreement provides for regular exchanges to strengthen the partnership. It also states that relations between the sides are based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.