BRUSSELS — Israel is “a dream” neighbor for the European Union and the country’s critics inside the bloc should drop their self-defeating obsession with human rights in Gaza, according to the Israeli ambassador in Brussels.

Haim Regev slammed Israel’s critics in Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia who have led the European outcry over the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and warned the leaders of France, Germany and the U.K. that their recent criticism plays into the hands of Hamas terrorists and antisemites. 

In a final interview with POLITICO before he returns to Tel Aviv after four years in Brussels, Regev appealed to the EU not to suspend Israel from parts of the Horizon Europe research program or to cut back trade ties. Such a move will only backfire and cost Europe any potential role shaping the future of the Middle East, he said. 

Trying to use “pressure” to influence Israel “has never worked and it will never work,” Regev said. “Now we are in a point where the EU or some elements are looking to suspend some of Horizon or whatever. I’m not concerned about the economic [impact] or about the outcome. I’m concerned about the message that it will send and following that, my concern is that whatever we built in the last few years will fall down. Because once it will happen, I don’t see the EU playing any role.”

“It’s very hard for me to see that the EU will have a space in playing a role in what’s going on the day after for the region.”

Relations between Israel and the EU have taken a nosedive in recent weeks amid intensifying criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government from some European leaders over the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. 

The European Commission has warned of an unfolding famine in Gaza and proposed suspending parts of the EU-Israel Association Agreement dealing with research and development after concluding Israel had breached its human rights obligations under the deal. But the proposal has so far been blocked because Germany, among others, is not willing to support penalizing Israel in this way.

Regev, who personally signed the Horizon agreement, said he hoped it would not be suspended and that he believed there would not be enough support from EU countries for tougher action, including cutting some trade ties with Israel. 

He acknowledged that EU support for Israel reached its “peak” after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and had been eroded the longer the war has gone on. “We are at a T-junction in the sense of where the EU wants to take those relations,” he said. 

Recent discussions between the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on the humanitarian situation had built trust and helped consolidate a “strong” foundation to the relationship, he said, warning that suspending parts of the association agreement would destroy all that goodwill.

“We are basically a dream for the EU of a neighboring country,” Regev said. “We are a democracy, there is no issue with migration, gay rights. It’s a dream,” he said. “At the end of the road Israel is the only player in the region that serves directly the interests of the EU.” 

Inside Brussels, many don’t see it that way. While Regev argues that he has always been on good terms with key players inside the Commission, some EU staff are threatening to strike in protest over Gaza. 

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s team of commissioners are also split over the right way to respond, with some increasingly speaking out against Israeli plans for Gaza, including Netanyahu’s proposal for full military occupation of the territory. 

‘Old antisemitism’ is back

Regev said Israel had been “extremely disappointed” that the Netherlands had joined the group of highly critical countries this year. And he was particularly disapproving of Germany’s recent decision to ban exports of arms that could be used in Gaza.

“We do not accept that. We don’t think it is a step that Germany should take. At the end of the road, Europe knows the history of Israel, and the Jews, especially the Jews,” Regev said.

He said he was concerned European societies are “going back to old days” when antisemitism was common and said “it is not safe” to be a Jew in Europe. “The rise of antisemitism is something we are also very concerned about. We see the numbers. It has become a danger to be here [in Europe] a Jew. They were blamed for many things. We are going back to old days. Some of it new antisemitism, some of it old antisemitism. And it’s not safe.”

Recent years have seen high or rising numbers of antisemitic incidents in Europe, according to multiple studies and statements, including by EU and U.N. bodies.

Criticism of Israel over the Gaza war and the suffering of Palestinians are “used by some” who launch attacks on Jews in Europe, he said. “It’s definitely used for that. Whenever anybody says something there are consequences.”