Running EuMEP (European Middle East Project) in Brussels, promoting just & fact-based EU policy on Israel/Palestine. www.eumep.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3mq7l4vmc3k2eMy commentary together with Muriel Asseburg of @swp-berlin.org on why Germany should not oppose but actually support an international-law based EU ban on trade with Israel's illegal settlements https://www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/aussen-und-sicherheitspolitik/artikel/weg-frei-fuer-importstopp-9179/09 Jul 2026 11:53 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7l4vmc3k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3mq7l35xnmk2e🚨As EU Commission puts out options to restrict trade with Israel's illegal settlements, we are today releasing our full proposal to ban such trade We show how the EU can concretely design & implement it – and why it's legally necessary By my org EuMEP & @cidse.bsky.social https://eumep.org/wp-content/uploads/Proposal-on-EU-trade-with-settlements-EuMEP-CIDSE.pdf09 Jul 2026 11:52 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7l35xnmk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3me76ze4mg22rSpoke to @euronews.com podcast on Gaza and Trump's Board of Peace, alongside @lisamusiol.bsky.social https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/02/06/podcast-israel-reopens-the-rafah-crossing-what-does-this-mean-for-gaza06 Feb 2026 15:14 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3me76ze4mg22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3m65v7rsxgs2wEurope's response to a flawed, lopsided, deceitful US plan for Gaza vs. Europe's response to a flawed, lopsided, deceitful US plan for Ukraine21 Nov 2025 18:15 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3m65v7rsxgs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3m3ungzeq6s2jShould the EU Seek a Seat on Trump's Gaza Board of Peace? With my two cents alongside others [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Oct 2025 15:11 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3ungzeq6s2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3m3amom4hqs2nJournalist: You've said Russia should repay for reconstruction of Ukraine. Do you believe Israel should repay for reconstruction of Gaza, since they destroyed almost the entire strip & civilian infrastructure? EU chief spox: It’s an interesting question, on which I have no comment at this stage.15 Oct 2025 16:04 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3amom4hqs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lz2edmkqv22cImportant move by the Commission & VDL. But one measure missing in the package is to ban trade with Israel's illegal settlements. While 5 member states are already moving to do so at national level. And while the EU could also do so as a trade measure by qualified majority. [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Sep 2025 17:29 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lz2edmkqv22chttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3ltpekvduv226This is an overly positive take on the EU-Israel Gaza aid deal👇 Several points to make here:🧵 1. If this brings more aid to the starving Gazans through UN mechanisms - and I strongly hope it will - then it's a win that will save lives. But: [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Jul 2025 17:28 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltpekvduv226https://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lsjdtqoscc25EU foreign ministers & ⁦‪@kajakallas.bsky.social‬⁩ this Monday: Let's park the discussion on any EU measures of pressure on Israel despite its breach of the Association Agreement, our first focus should be on dialogue with Israel to help get humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel:26 Jun 2025 14:33 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsjdtqoscc25https://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lsh6elaw6c25Coalition of NGOs challenging @ec.europa.eu and @michaelmcgratheu.bsky.social for continuing to treat Israel as an "adequate" country for unrestricted transfers of EU personal data despite escalating human rights violations and disregard for international law [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Jun 2025 17:50 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsh6elaw6c25https://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lqwglungs22f"We are ashamed of you" - powerful open letter by 200 Maltese writers, academics, artists and activists calling out @president.europarl.europa.eu Roberta Metsola's silence on Gaza. openlettertorobertametsola.wordpress.com/2025/06/05/5/06 Jun 2025 08:37 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqwglungs22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lqmvig2xns27Europe's dynamics on Gaza finally begin to shift, a human rights review of EU-Israel ties is under way. This is an opportunity to step out of Europe's self-imposed irrelevance and press Israel to reverse its devastating course. My piece @theguardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/02/israel-eu-trade-sanctions-human-rights02 Jun 2025 13:37 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqmvig2xns27https://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lqezbnior22lThe EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner – and that gives it leverage to finally change the course of this brutal war - superb piece by @nathalietocci.bsky.social related to the ongoing EU review https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/30/gaza-europe-israel-eu-trading-partner30 May 2025 10:23 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqezbnior22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lq3otlcbgs2w“It’s like standing in front of a burning building and asking for a review of whether there’s a fire” - @conoraon on EU’s review of Israel’s compliance with the human rights clause of the Association Agreement👌 https://www.newarab.com/analysis/europe-finally-taking-action-over-israels-genocide-gaza26 May 2025 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq3otlcbgs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lq375bkfss2dFinally - after decades of toothless EU statements calling the settlements illegal and destructive for peace, a first member state says hey, maybe we shouldn’t be trading with them. Where are the others? [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 May 2025 12:42 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq375bkfss2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lpk5brk2zs23Large coalition of governments rejects Israel's US-backed dystopian "aid" plan aimed at displacing and concentrating the Gaza population. Demands Israel to let aid in and allow UN & humanitarian orgs to do their work to deliver it to people across Gaza. https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/2718780-271878019 May 2025 17:53 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpk5brk2zs23https://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lpk5an7zic23Leaders of UK, France, Canada: "We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Gov. pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response." https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-from-the-leaders-of-the-united-kingdom-france-and-canada-on-the-situation-in-gaza-and-the-west-bank19 May 2025 17:52 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpk5an7zic23https://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lpjtm5aob22bOnly when the EU started discussing the possibility of suspending the Association Agreement does Israel begin to take notice. Israeli cabinet discussion on whether to allow any aid into Gaza, according to Israeli broadcaster KAN (translation)👇 https://www.kan.org.il/content/kan-news/politic/904878/19 May 2025 15:00 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpjtm5aob22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lpescogvo22mPromoting illegal settlements under the guise of academic cooperation: Prague is hosting a “Czech-Israeli university conference” with multiple speakers from the settler Ariel University that‘s banned from EU academic & research programs Erasmus and Horizon https://www.politikaspolecnost.cz/aktualne/czech-israeli-university-conference/17 May 2025 14:53 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpescogvo22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lpbvacsxsk2pLe Monde on shifts in the French Jewish community on Gaza https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2025/05/12/des-personnalites-de-la-communaute-juive-francaise-prennent-position-pour-denoncer-la-situation-a-gaza_6605467_3224.html16 May 2025 11:08 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpbvacsxsk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lp7vgsfcac24Israeli human rights NGOs checked point by point how Israel responded to EU calls made at recent EU-Israel Association Council. They found "consistent and deliberate disregard" by Israel for EU positions. Highly relevant for current EU debate on Association Agreement. https://gisha.org/UserFiles/File/The-Platform-Compliance-EU-Demands.pdf15 May 2025 16:06 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp7vgsfcac24https://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3loxwmhjiuk2nThis decision is a "mega-land grab" and a move towards "full-scale annexation". Peace Now on Israel's decision to resume, for the first time since 1967, land registration in the West Bank, a bureaucratic camouflage for massive theft of Palestinian land. https://peacenow.org.il/en/cabinet-decision-land-registration12 May 2025 12:06 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3loxwmhjiuk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinkonecny.bsky.social/post/3lonxlgu7j22p🇵🇹Portugal backs the Dutch initiative to review the EU-Israel association agreement: “Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said that Portugal supports the Netherlands' proposal to review the association agreement between Israel and the EU.” https://www.tsf.pt/3393729451/situacao-dramatica-em-gaza-portugal-apoia-revisao-do-acordo-de-associacao-entre-israel-e-a-ue/08 May 2025 12:57 +0000at://did:plc:dlidpdwvyfgrimhzi7lifdak/app.bsky.feed.post/3lonxlgu7j22p