The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been characterized by a massive gap between rhetoric and reality. For decades, diplomacy danced around this disconnect, feeding into the rhetoric of a “peace process” that over the years started having less and less to do with “peace” and more and more to do with “process.” Meanwhile, the reality of Israel’s de facto annexation of the West Bank and violence there and in Gaza continued, even as the conflict faded from the international limelight.
Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, brought that gap between rhetoric and reality back into focus. In the immediate aftermath of that brutal day, governments around the world understandably expressed their support for Israel. But old habits die hard, and rather than changing course as Israel responded to Hamas’ attack with its ongoing onslaught in Gaza, the international community—and in particular the U.S. and Europe—doubled down on its long-held positions.
In Europe, any condemnations of Israel’s atrocities have been light and sporadic at best. Only after almost two years of war did the European Commission propose the first timid punitive measures toward Israel, including the suspension of preferential trade arrangements and sanctions against individual Israelis, such as extremist Cabinet ministers and violent settlers. And even these measures have not been approved yet.