Israel would be \u201cbetter off\u201d without its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said, in an unusually direct rebuke from an EU head of government.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNetanyahu is a problem in himself now,\u201d Frederiksen told Danish daily Jyllands-Posten in an interview<\/a> published Friday.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Such personal criticism of a national leader is rare in Brussels, reflecting the bind EU leaders find themselves in: They need to address the human cost of the war in Gaza \u2014 which has killed some 62,000 people according\u00a0the health ministry in Gaza, which is under the Hamas-run government\u00a0\u2014 while asserting Israel\u2019s right to defend itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since the Hamas terrorist attack of 7 October, 2023 and the Israeli invasion of Gaza that followed, European official criticism of Israel has been focused on policies such as settlement expansion, civilian protection, or the recognition of a Palestinian state. But Frederiksen\u2019s words reflect a hardening of opinion in recent weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n Frederiksen\u2019s criticism \u201creflects a great frustration with the current Israeli leadership\u201d even among countries that have traditionally been friends of Israel, said James Moran, associate senior research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies and a former Middle East advisor at the EU External Action Service.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey think it’s very bad for Israel as much as anything else,\u201d he told The Parliament.\u00a0<\/p>\n Escalating rhetoric<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n European leaders have stepped up their criticism of Israel over the summer. In June, nine EU foreign ministers \u2014 from Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden \u2014 urged<\/a> the European Commission to explore ways of curbing trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.\u00a0Later 31 countries, including 21 EU member states, issued<\/a> a joint statement calling for an end to the war in Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n Last month, France and Malta recognised<\/a> a Palestinian state, with the UK, Canada and Australia following suit shortly after, prompting furious exchanges with Israel\u2019s prime minister. Netanyahu said the French position was fuelling antisemitism in the country, an accusation French President Emmanual Macron labelled<\/a> as \u201cmanipulation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Some in Europe doubt the effectiveness of such measures. In an emailed statement to The Parliament, the Danish foreign affairs ministry said it was \u201cdoubtful\u201d that a \u201crecognition of Palestine right now would have any real impact on the ground.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Existing efforts have had little impact. An aid deal orchestrated<\/a> by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas designed to allow more aid into Gaza has essentially collapsed, while journalists in Gaza continue to be killed<\/a>. And just last week, Kallas said a plan<\/a> for a new Israeli settlement was in breach of international law.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as Austria, Germany, Czech Republic and Hungary are not moving from their position \u2026 then real decisions are not going to be made,\u201d Koert Debeuf, a professor in Middle East Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), told The Parliament.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Danish foreign affairs ministry also acknowledged this difficulty: \u201cAs Presidency [of the Council of the EU], we will contribute to finding common ground for action. Some measures require EU unity, some require QMV [qualified majority vote] \u2014 so it is not an easy task.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The EU\u2019s limited leverage therefore continues to be a source of frustration. \u201cEuropean external relations have become … so volatile and at the same time remain so supine,\u201d Giles Merritt, senior associate fellow at the Egmont Institute, told The Parliament. \u201cReactive rather than proactive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Personality politics<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Frederiksen\u2019s decision to focus on Netanyahu personally does show a growing rhetorical rift between him and other Western leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTempers are getting frayed,\u201d said Merritt. \u201cFrederiksen’s remarks, I think, reflect the mood swing inside the EU: that Netanyahu’s really rather unscrupulous self-interest has really tipped the balance on what European governments are prepared to put up with.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Netanyahu\u2019s governing coalition relies on the support of far-right parties, some of whose leaders want Israel to occupy all of Gaza and expand settlements in the West Bank. At the same time, Netanyahu is facing corruption charges related to a previous term of office; court proceedings have been delayed due to the war.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe Israeli government is procrastinating,\u201d said Moran, adding that it \u201cwishes very much to continue the conflict \u2026 not necessarily in the interest of the State of Israel, but in its own interests.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Netanyahu under pressure at home<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n These issues have piled pressure on Netanyahu at home as well as abroad. Around 500,000 people gathered<\/a> in Tel Aviv over the weekend, demanding an end to the war and the release of hostages. Netanyahu criticised the demonstrators, saying they \u201charden Hamas\u2019s position and draw out the release of our hostages.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n