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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Jennifer Rankin in Strasbourg

Ursula von der Leyen calls for suspension of EU free trade with Israel

Von der Leyen standing behind a lectern and speaks into a microphone
Ursula von der Leyen made the remarks during her annual ‘state of the union’ address in Strasbourg. Photograph: Sébastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for a suspension of free trade with Israel, as she spoke of Europe’s “painful” inability to respond to the war on Gaza and ensuing humanitarian disaster.

In her most extended condemnation yet of the Israeli government, von der Leyen criticised plans for illegal settlements that would split the occupied West Bank in half, as well as incitement of violence by extremist Israeli ministers, as a “clear attempt to undermine the two-state solution”.

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