Over the past years, the world has watched Israel commit atrocities against the Palestinian people in Gaza, with mounting evidence from human rights organisations, UN bodies, and civil society that these acts amount to genocide. Yet, the European Union continues business as usual with Israel. The EU is not a bystander: it is Israel’s main trading partner, and its ongoing political and economic cooperation helps sustain a system of colonisation and mass violence. 

At the same time, Malta often presents itself as being on the “right side of history”. We formally recognised the State of Palestine last year, a fact regularly invoked by politicians as proof of moral leadership. But recognition without action is hollow. Worse still, Malta remains part of an EU framework that actively fuels Israel’s military, energy, and economic capacity, despite overwhelming evidence that trade, energy infrastructure, and fossil fuel interests play a direct role in sustaining this apartheid system in Palestine.

Friends of the Earth organisations across Europe and internationally have been clear: the EU is complicit, and this complicity must end. From arms exports to energy cooperation, EU policy continues to enable Israel’s system of apartheid, colonisation and violence.

At the time of writing, our Prime Minister is reportedly considering joining Donald Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” – a body with no legitimacy, no accountability, and no commitment to international law. A “peace board” associated with the US president who openly backed Israel’s assault on Gaza and Palestine, while also having his own record of aggressive global actions and military operations beyond US borders. 

This is not peacebuilding. 

True peace is not achieved through elite panels or empty diplomatic gestures. It is achieved through justice, accountability, and the suspension of relations with states committing grave crimes. That is why the newly launched European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is so important – and why you should sign it.

The European Citizens’ Initiative calls on the European Commission to propose the full suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement. More than 34% of Israel’s imports come from the EU, and nearly 29% of its exports go to the EU. Suspending this agreement would be a clear signal that violations of international law have consequences.

For the past year, all institutional attempts to suspend this agreement have failed. The ECI exists precisely because EU leaders have refused to act, leaving citizens to do what governments will not.

To succeed, the initiative must collect at least one million signatures. This means that every signature genuinely matters. If you are an EU citizen, you can sign it here!

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If governments will not act, people must.