Why Slovenia Stands Alone in the EU on Banning Arms Trade with Israel
Slovenia is acting independently since there is no agreement at the European level. It was the first EU nation to outlaw all arms commerce with Israel, including imports and transit, on Thursday.
The Slovenian government made clear in a news statement that it was concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and that the EU was unable to take such action due to “internal disagreements.”
The Slovenian government claims that because of the conflict, it has not granted any permits for the transfer of weapons to Israel since October 2023, making the decision primarily symbolic.
Tanja Fajon, Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated on 15 July in Brussels, “All measures are under consideration; we endorse, as we have previously, the suspension of the accession agreement with Israel, alongside trade sanctions, an arms embargo, and sanctions targeting specific settlers, certain ministers, and the Israeli government that endorses violence.”
Following the Gaza War in 2008–2009, Belgium formally prohibited the transfer of weapons to Israel.
In February 2024, the Dutch Court of Appeal in The Hague revoked the transfer of F-35 spare parts to Israel.
States are not allowed to export weapons intended for use in crimes against humanity or genocide, according to the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty.
Additionally, in 2008, EU nations committed to rejecting transfers of military hardware and technology that might be used to prolong wars.
Some nations claim that the components are utilized as training aids and are not made in Gaza, but are solely put together in Israel.
“The Italian government recently banned the issuance of new export licenses, but everything that had been authorized prior to October 7, 2023, was still traveling to Israel, according to the work of various Italian human rights associations and the Italian investigative press.
“In specific sections for aircraft training,” Longuet says. Another issue is the transfer of dual-use technologies, which have both military and civilian use.
Israel receives the majority of its armaments from the United States.
Two-thirds of Israel’s arms imports come from it, with Italy and Germany following in second and third.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Germany mostly sells torpedoes and frigates.
Source: Euro News
