The EU is threatening Israel with a boycott and the termination of the EU Association Agreement. Which parts and how exactly will be decided tomorrow. In any case, the EU will be shooting itself in the foot, as has been discussed on VonNaftali.
“Today we propose to sanction extremist ministers and violent settlers, and suspend trade concessions with Israel” (non-public elected President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen)
However, the EU has been quick to state that it will continue promoting and financially supporting Israeli “civil society.” Who is this ominous “civil society”? For the EU, it apparently consists of the organisations listed below, which the EU supported in 2024. One can therefore reasonably assume that it intends to continue supporting these and similar organisations.
“We will not block Israeli civil society and Israeli people have our full support in these trying times. Our pressure is not aimed at those who defend democratic values and international humanitarian law”, posted Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean and for Demography, and former mayor of Dubrovnik.
Based on the most recent publicly available data from 2024, the European Union authorised €7.2 million across 14 grants for projects implemented by various Israeli NGOs. Of the €7.2 million, about 50% (€3.67 million) supports two-state solution initiatives.
Many of those listed organisations below (for example, B’Tselem, Breaking the Silence, and Combatants for Peace) are part of networks like the New Israel Fund.
| Organisation (NGO) | Key Project(s) Funded in 2024 | Approximate Grant Amount(s) |
| B’Tselem | Holding Israeli Authorities Accountable for Forcible Transfer. Focus on settler violence and international accountability | €410,000 |
| Breaking the Silence | Educating towards Peace: Educating Israeli Youth on the Situation in the Palestinian Territories (youth education on conflict and two-state solution) | €410,000 + €400,000 |
| Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center | Religious Leaders for Accountability, Justice and Peace through the Two-State Solution. Promoting the two-state solution via religious leaders) | €1,000,000 |
| Combatants for Peace | Not specified in detail; part of broader advocacy networks | Included in multi-NGO grants |
| Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) | Protecting Palestinian Detainees’ Rights | €500,000 + €500,000 |
| Physicians for Human Rights – Israel (PHR-I) | Behind Bars, Beyond Rights (co-funded with PCATI; detainee health rights); | €500,000 + €480,359 |
| Zulat | Upholding the Democratic Principle of Freedom of Protest (co-funded with PCATI) | €500,000 |
| Bimkom | Part of advocacy letter networks; planning and urban rights focus | Included in multi-NGO grants |
| Molad | The Day After, Gaza, and the EU: Perceptions of Israeli Policy Shapers (policy analysis) | €59,874 |
| Sikkuy Aufoq | Equality and shared society initiatives | Included in grants |
| Solidarity for Art Activism and Human Rights | Art-based human rights activism | Included in grants |
| S.H.A.’A.L. – Peace Now for Israel | Peace education and two-state advocacy | Included in grants |
| Itach Maaki (Women Lawyers for Social Justice) | Women’s rights and social justice | Included in grants |
| Mossawa Center | Arab minority rights in Israel | Included in grants |
| Nivcharot | Women’s political participation | Included in grants |
| WePower | Women’s empowerment | Included in grants |
| Berl Katznelson Foundation | Democracy and education programs | Included in grants |
First Reactions in Israel
Reactions are currently limited. People are waiting to see what concrete decisions, if any, will be made tomorrow.
Von der Leyen’s position is anything but certain.
Israel’s current stance can be summarised in the following statement from the Foreign Minister and his letter to the EU Commission.
Addressing and portraying “civil society” as if it were the true representatives of Israel, as the EU insinuates, is, of course, factual nonsense. Israel’s will is represented by the elected Knesset, which appointed the government. It wasn’t chosen in a backroom without nomination, as von der Leyen initially was, but through secret, public elections. The Israeli people spoke. No NGO, no media, nobody has greater legitimacy than the elected government. That’s democracy. It’s hard to understand in the deep-state EU, but it’s true. We the people. Israel First.
Austria may vote NO tomorrow in the ‘EU vote against Israel,’ meaning Austria doesn’t support an EU boycott against Israel. Likewise, Hungary certainly will vote with NO. And the Czech Republic is also likely to vote NO, too. The K&K axis at work.
Further, effective trade measures require approval by the EU Council of Member States by a qualified majority. And this qualified majority is not safe: It is said that Germany and Italy may vote with NO, too. That means, no majority.
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Source: Data from EU disclosures tracked by NGO Monitor.