EU to suspend Israeli security firms from Horizon research program
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The EU Commission recommends suspending Israeli security firms from the Horizon program over military ties, signaling growing European backlash.
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Boaz Levy, the CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries, speaks to The Associated Press at the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. (AP)
The European Commission has recommended suspending the participation of Israeli security-related companies in the EU’s prestigious Horizon research funding program, according to a report by Israeli outlet Kipa.
The recommendation targets Israeli firms whose research and development may contribute to the occupation’s military-industrial complex, particularly in fields such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The suspension would not apply to civilian or academic institutions that have no ties to the security or arms sectors.
Israeli officials have reacted sharply to the proposal, warning that implementation would deliver a "severe blow" to the occupation’s technological sector. Some officials even claimed the decision would "strengthen Hamas and weaken prospects for a ceasefire," reflecting mounting anxiety over the EU’s increasingly critical stance.
Horizon funding under scrutiny
The Israeli occupation has been a member of the Horizon Europe program since 2021, receiving access to nearly €100 billion in research funds annually. The program is one of the most significant sources of EU financial and technological collaboration, particularly in high-tech and defense-adjacent sectors.
The European recommendation comes at a time of mounting political pressure across the continent, as public and governmental outrage over the Israeli occupation's war on Gaza intensifies. The move is being interpreted as a response to ongoing violations and the occupation’s use of advanced surveillance and weapons systems in its military campaigns.
EU members signal growing divergence from Tel Aviv
The decision is not yet final, but political momentum is building. Germany, traditionally one of the Israeli occupation's staunchest backers, has expressed openness to supporting the measure. Even Italy, another close ally, has sent signals suggesting a shift in tone. The Netherlands is also expected to vote in favor of the recommendation.
This comes after a European Commission spokesperson acknowledged that while "Israel" has taken certain steps to enhance the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the overall conditions continue to be extremely severe, with persistent challenges and unmet needs exacerbating the crisis for the civilian population.
He added that the EU was currently assessing the situation and emphasized that all options remained on the table if "Israel" did not deliver on an agreement made with the EU earlier this month regarding the improvement of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The agreement included provisions for a substantial increase in the number of daily trucks carrying food and non-food items into Gaza, the opening of additional crossing points in both the northern and southern regions, and the resumption of aid routes from Jordan and Egypt.
A senior Israeli official stated earlier this week that while "Israel" had reached "understandings" with the EU regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, no "formal agreement" had been made, emphasizing that "Israel's" actions were guided by its own cabinet decisions rather than external commitments.
115+ killed by Israeli-made famine in Gaza
Hospitals in Gaza have documented over 115 deaths from malnutrition and famine as a result of the Israeli blockade, with the deepening famine now affecting the entire Strip, exacerbated by the uninterrupted closure of all crossings for 145 days straight and the ongoing blockade of critical humanitarian supplies, including infant formula.
In a statement issued on July 24, the Government Media Office in Gaza sounded the alarm over the severe scarcity of food, water, and medicine, emphasizing that the Strip desperately needs a minimum of 500,000 bags of flour weekly to prevent a complete humanitarian catastrophe.
In its statement, the office also refuted claims circulated by some activists outside Gaza that the famine had been alleviated or that "hundreds of aid trucks" had entered, firmly rejecting these assertions as entirely unfounded and stressing that such misleading narratives dangerously align with Israeli propaganda while obscuring the reality of the persistent humanitarian crisis.
The statement also warned against the dissemination of rumors that risk desensitizing global attention and diverting focus from the dire humanitarian emergency, calling on Palestinians and their supporters to actively counter false narratives and maintain an unwavering commitment to truthfully documenting the unfolding catastrophe.
