A2. EUROPEAN UNION (EU), PROPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL, LEAKED 17 NOVEMBER 2014

Following the failure of U.S.-brokered peace talks and Israel’s summer assault on Gaza, the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) tasked the group of Middle East experts—known internally as the Mashreq/Maghreb Working Party, or MaMa—with drafting a proposal for punitive responses to Israeli actions that inhibit the two-state solution. The proposal includes actions against European companies working in West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements; non-opposition of unilateral Palestinian actions in international forums; and refusal to engage with settlers. Such measures, if implemented, could impact relations with senior Israeli officials and Knesset members, including Minister of Economy Naftali Bennett, Minister of Construction Uri Ariel, and Likud Party members. The EU reportedly continued sanctions discussions throughout the quarter but withheld any action until after the Israeli elections on 17 March.

Presented below is the full draft of the proposed sanctions, as leaked by Haaretz. The document, described as a “non paper,” highlights the sensitivity of such discussions among international political leaders. The document is available at www.haaretz.com.