EU Confidential Leo Varadkar on Donald Trump, and the EU’s Israel dilemma
13 snips
May 23, 2025 
Rym Momtaz, a European and Middle Eastern politics expert, discusses the EU's evolving stance on its trade agreement with Israel amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Leo Varadkar, former Irish Taoiseach, shares insights on navigating the complexities of identity politics and the EU-U.K. relationship post-Brexit. They explore the implications of U.S. and German military aid suspensions and the pressing need for the EU to take a unified approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting Ireland's unique position in this geopolitical landscape.
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Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza
- Israel's policy to block humanitarian aid aims to make Gaza uninhabitable, pushing Gazans to leave forcibly.
- This amounts to ethnic cleansing and is driving mounting European diplomatic pressure on Israel.
EU Leverage and Divisions on Israel
- EU's review of its association agreement with Israel is a rare but significant diplomatic lever.
- Opposition within the EU mostly stems from historical guilt and security concerns, complicating consensus.
Israel's Defense Versus Occupation Reality
- Israel rejects comparisons to Russia, citing its democratic nature and the 7 October Hamas attack.
- However, the disproportionate Israeli response ignores the long-standing occupation of Palestinians.