TEHRAN – The European Union faces an increasing number of criticism of handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with many accusing them of maintaining a “normal business” approach that allows for continued violence and human rights abuses in Gaza.
Despite clear evidence of war crimes and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, major EU leaders continue to ignore calls for Israel to continue to provide political and military support and hold it accountable. This raised serious questions about Europe’s commitment to international law, human rights, and its role in the global diplomatic stage.
The Tehran Times interviewed Mark Botenga, a Belgian member of the European Parliament, representing the left group (GUE/NGL). Botenga is a powerful critic of the European Union’s policy of Israel.
Botenga condemns the EU’s “normal business” approach as an accomplice to Gaza’s genocide, highlighting the bloc’s privileged trade deal, arms exports and political support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
He calls for leaders like Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Karas to expose EU double standards in his response to Ukraine and Palestine, enable war crimes and ignore the decisions of the International Criminal Court.
Drawing from first-hand experience in Palestine, Botenga calls for urgent public mobilization and justice to hold Europe accountable.
Below is the text from an interview with Marc Botenga.
Question: Describe the EU’s current approach to Israel as “normal business” and criticizes accomplices. What are the specific policy changes that break this pattern of accomplice?
Answer: It is important to acknowledge that today the European Union is not just a normal relationship with Israel. He has a privileged partnership with Israel.
So, for example, to access the EU market, it essentially gives Israel many privileges, advantages. This makes the EU one of Israel’s major trading partners.
Israeli entities also provide access to European public funding, research and development funds. So we are sponsors and this should be stopped. It is very clear that you need to cancel this contract right now. The agreement itself speaks about human rights. He says that human rights should be respected.
Obviously, they are not respected. Therefore, if Europe wants to stop being hypocritical, this agreement with Israel must be cancelled immediately.
Secondly, there are still weapons from the European Union, from Europe to Israel. This should be stopped. We need to stop genocide, and to not conspire, arms exports to Israel must be stopped immediately. These are two specific measures that Europe should take right now.
Q: European leaders like Ursula von Der Leyen and Kaja Kallas have been criticized by you for their stance on Israel. What political or strategic factors affect your current position?
A: I think they believe Israel will defend the role of Western imperialism in the region. Today, Israel is bombing various countries in the Middle East and destroying various countries in the Middle East. I think European leaders think this is in the West’s interest. I don’t think this would benefit people either in this region or in Europe.
And it is definitely a violation of international law, fundamental human rights. There has been dehumanization of the Palestinians, and I fear that today Kaja Karas (EU chief diplomat) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission) are making contributions. They also normalize war crimes.
I think this is very bad. They are still having normal arguments with the Israelites. They visit and meet the Israeli leader as if nothing had happened, and this is absolutely unacceptable. We know what the International Criminal Court said, so we cannot be complicit or conspired in these crimes.
Kaja Kallas and Ursula von der Leyen normalize war crimes in Gaza.
Q: We have emphasized the EU’s “double standards” regarding Ukraine and Gaza, particularly when it comes to labeling genocides. What do you think this contradiction will have on the credibility of EU foreign policy?
A: I know that when Russia invaded Ukraine, the European Union began sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. However, today, despite violations of humanitarian law and human rights, there is no such sanctions against Israel.
This clearly identifies the double standard. Because of this contradiction, people will no longer believe in the European Union when talking about human rights and international law.
The results are clear. What we saw is that the European Union has essentially disappeared from its diplomatic stage.
Ten or 15 years ago, Europe had a real presence in all important international negotiations. For example, European countries played a key role in negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. European countries were also involved in Palestine. Today they are not even part of a diplomatic debate. It’s like they’ve left the world stage – it’s honestly very shocking.
And this is the result of the double standard. When it speaks about international law and human rights, why should we believe in Europe?
Q: You led the protest and spoke strongly in the European Parliament. How do you view the role of politicians in Europe in mobilizing public opinion and influencing the EU’s foreign policy regarding Palestine in a broader context around the world?
A: Well, I think we need to deal with the hypocrisy of European leaders. We need to be very clear. When they speak, when they use rhetoric about international law and when they apply double standards at the same time, they are inconsistent. We need to call it clearly.
You can’t accept when the ICC suits your interests, and ignore it when it doesn’t. We need to expose them not to truly defend human rights or international law, but to serve other interests (often the interests of Western imperialism).
However, it is important to say that many people in Europe are mobilizing. They stand in solidarity with Palestine.
These voices need to be brought to the European Parliament and exposed the hypocrisy of the European Union both inside and outside of Parliament.
You need to raise awareness. We need to tell people. We need to increase public pressure to drive true policy change.
Q: You called the Belgian Prime Minister’s claim that arresting Netanyahu is not an absolute scandal. What legal applications do you think European countries, including Belgium, are making for war criminals like Netanyahu?
A: Well, it’s very clear: Belgium has signed Roman law. Belgium is part of and supports the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Therefore, the ICC has a legal obligation to arrest anyone who issues an arrest warrant.
When the ICC issued a warrant for Vladimir Putin, the European leader, the president of Russia, was unanimous. They said they would arrest him.
With perhaps one exception, all European countries have made it very clear that they support and act on the warrant. But now, when the ICC issues a warrant for Netanyahu, they are suddenly looking for excuses. That is unacceptable.
It needs to be clear. ICC arrest warrants must be carried out by European countries.
Double standards cannot be applied. You can’t accept when the ICC suits your interests, and ignore it when it doesn’t. That is not the mechanism of international law. If you believe in the rule of law, you need to be consistent.
Q: Considering Washington’s unwavering support for Israel, how does the EU see the need to balance equations and support international law and human rights?
A: The European Union is not balanced this equation today. It speaks of international law and human rights, but it does not act in its own words. That’s very clear.
Human rights and international law do not guide EU foreign policy today. They are not Africa where the EU conspires with some of the worst crimes. And they are not doing that in Palestine now. There, the EU continues to conspire in what many call genocide.
This shows that the European Union should not be in charge of supporting international law, but certainly we must respect that. And as the world is changing, there are all reasons to respect international law. We see the rise of many powerful countries. International law is a way in which we engage with one another with respect.
It is the world order we need: respect, equality, and what is based on trade relations that are beneficial to both parties – countries discuss, listen and treat each other as equal. But unfortunately, this is not the actual policy of the EU today.
Q: What purpose does Israel seek in the indiscriminate bombing in Gaza, including targeting UN workers and journalists?
A: They want to expel the Palestinians – they want to drive them away and take the land, and eventually annex them. This is something Israel has been doing for decades. They illegally occupy Palestine land. Some people like to say this is a “difficult” or “complicated” conflict. But that’s not the case.
It’s actually quite simple. You have one state, the state of Israel. It is occupying more and more Palestinian land.
This is not just an opinion. The United Nations condemned it. The International Court of Justice condemned it. It’s transparent.
What we need is a return to international law, and Israel must respect that law. But instead, they are against it. They are doing ethnic cleansing.
They are committing genocide – not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank. They illegally occupy parts of Syria, which has also influenced Lebanon. And this has to stop.
Q: I witnessed Israeli military action firsthand in a Palestinian city. How have these experiences shaped your political activity and advocacy in the European Parliament?
A: When I went to Palestine and I’ve been there a few times, and you’ll see with your own eyes what’s really going on.
You can see the role that the Israeli army will play. You see how settlers threaten and attack Palestinians.
You witness arrogance and violence – illegal settlers can drive away Palestinians, destroy villages, attack homes, even attack Palestinian children.
Looking up close, you can’t keep quiet when it’s not just what you read in the report. We cannot accept that the European Union continues to support this. You just can’t.
Q: What challenges do you face within the European Parliament when promoting stronger actions against Gaza?
A: It’s a matter of balance of power. Therefore, you need to influence the relationship of power. And, as you know, we speak up, but we need to mobilize the population.
Let me give you an example. In early May, tens of thousands of Belgians marched on the streets. Two days later, the government had to respond. They have not changed their policy yet, but have been forced to release an official statement.
That’s pressure. Our challenge at the European level is to amplify this popular pressure, and to end the accomplices of genocide and change policies.
Q: Before we reach a conclusion, do you have a final message you would like to share with us?
A: I think in this case, everything needs to mobilize in favor of humanity. There is no place in our world for the cleansing of our people. And I think a lot of people have seen the double standards of Europe. We have seen the European Union have always spoken publicly about how morally superior they are.
Today they show the true face of imperialism. It’s absolutely violent and horrifying.
But I am optimistic. Because I see solidarity with Palestinians from the US to Europe and the rest of the world. And I think this is really encouraging.