Brussels, Belgium – The European Union rejected accusations by Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin that the bloc was seeking to topple the Israeli government. It asserted that these claims were “completely unfounded, offensive, and unacceptable.”
Official denial from Brussels
Anwar Al-Anouni, spokesperson for the European External Action Service, stated during a European Commission press briefing that the remarks attributed to Levin through his lawyer were baseless.
He added that the allegations made by a lawyer representing the Israeli Minister of Justice against the European Union “are not supported by any evidence.” He emphasized that Brussels categorically rejects these statements.
Affirming respect for elected governments
Al-Anani emphasized that the European Union “has never tried, and will never try, to overthrow a democratically elected government.” He also expressed his expectation that these statements would be retracted immediately.
This stance comes amid escalating tensions between the two sides following previous European positions criticizing Israeli policies in the West Bank. These positions have deemed some of the measures to be in violation of international law and detrimental to stability efforts.
Context of European-Israeli relations
Relations between the European Union and Israel are marked by frequent disagreements over settlement activity and actions in the Palestinian territories. Brussels has previously expressed concern over Israeli measures it considers to be in violation of its international obligations.
In its official statements, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to supporting political solutions based on international law. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels of dialogue with all parties.
