On Tuesday 15 July 2025, European Union (EU) foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to decide whether to impose sanctions on Israel.
This is a crucial moment for the EU to draw a red line and stop pumping billions of euros into Israel’s economy, fuelling genocide and occupation. SOMO’s analysis of trade and foreign investment into and from Israel reveals how deeply intertwined the European and Israeli economies are. Based on this analysis, SOMO calls for the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, along with a full arms embargo, extensive economic sanctions and corporate accountability. The EU is the largest investor in Israel worldwide, nearly twice as big as the United States (US). According to the most recent IMF data on foreign investment, EU member states held €72.1 billion in foreign investment in Israel in 2023, compared to €39.2 billion for the US. Israel itself has invested €65.9 billion in the EU, seven times as much as in the US (€8.8 billion). That makes the EU the main destination for Israeli investment. Despite Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and its unlawful occupation across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the EU increased exports to Israel by €1 billion, standing at €25.5 billion in 2023 and €26.7 billion in 2024. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, and its total trade with Israel in 2024, including imports and exports, amounted to €42.6 billion. This is significantly more than the US, whose trade with Israel totalled €31.6 billion in the same year. Of all EU member states, the Netherlands is by far the largest investor in Israel and is responsible for two-thirds of EU investment in Israel. In fact, no other country worldwide has more investments in Israel. With €50 billion in investment held by Dutch companies in 2023, the Netherlands even tops the US. Conversely, the Netherlands is also the largest destination for Israeli investment, attracting six times as much investment as the US.
Links:
As mass starvation spreads across Gaza, more than 100 NGOs make an urgent plea to allow in life-saving aid
Occupied Palestinian Territories: joint statement, 21 July 2025
From economy of occupation to economy of genocide
Geen land investeert meer in Israël dan Nederland
On Tuesday 15 July 2025, European Union (EU) foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to decide whether to impose sanctions on Israel.
This is a crucial moment for the EU to draw a red line and stop pumping billions of euros into Israel’s economy, fuelling genocide and occupation. SOMO’s analysis of trade and foreign investment into and from Israel reveals how deeply intertwined the European and Israeli economies are. Based on this analysis, SOMO calls for the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, along with a full arms embargo, extensive economic sanctions and corporate accountability. The EU is the largest investor in Israel worldwide, nearly twice as big as the United States (US). According to the most recent IMF data on foreign investment, EU member states held €72.1 billion in foreign investment in Israel in 2023, compared to €39.2 billion for the US. Israel itself has invested €65.9 billion in the EU, seven times as much as in the US (€8.8 billion). That makes the EU the main destination for Israeli investment. Despite Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and its unlawful occupation across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the EU increased exports to Israel by €1 billion, standing at €25.5 billion in 2023 and €26.7 billion in 2024. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, and its total trade with Israel in 2024, including imports and exports, amounted to €42.6 billion. This is significantly more than the US, whose trade with Israel totalled €31.6 billion in the same year. Of all EU member states, the Netherlands is by far the largest investor in Israel and is responsible for two-thirds of EU investment in Israel. In fact, no other country worldwide has more investments in Israel. With €50 billion in investment held by Dutch companies in 2023, the Netherlands even tops the US. Conversely, the Netherlands is also the largest destination for Israeli investment, attracting six times as much investment as the US.
Links:
As mass starvation spreads across Gaza, more than 100 NGOs make an urgent plea to allow in life-saving aid
Occupied Palestinian Territories: joint statement, 21 July 2025
From economy of occupation to economy of genocide
Geen land investeert meer in Israël dan Nederland
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