Ursula von der Leyen’s Controversial Embrace of Israel’s Settler Movement

In January 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed Dani Dayan, a prominent figure in Israel’s settler movement, to Brussels. Dayan, who had previously chaired the Yesha Council—the umbrella organization for Israeli settlements in the West Bank—has been a vocal advocate for the expansion of settlements, including the contentious E-1 project linking East Jerusalem with the rest of the West Bank. His advocacy directly contradicts the European Union’s stance on the two-state solution and the illegality of Israeli settlements under international law.

The E-1 Project and Its Implications

The E-1 project, championed by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, aims to construct a new settlement corridor that would further fragment Palestinian territories and undermine the viability of a contiguous Palestinian state. Despite international condemnation, including from the United Nations, the European Union’s response has been tepid, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas merely urging Israel to “desist” from advancing the project. Critics argue that such statements are insufficient and fail to address the systemic nature of Israeli settlement expansion

Von der Leyen’s Engagement with Dayan

Documents obtained by David Cronin, through freedom of information requests, reveal that von der Leyen’s office was aware of Dayan’s leadership role in the settler movement prior to his visit (attached below). The Israeli embassy’s request for the meeting highlighted Dayan’s previous position as head of the Yesha Council, yet von der Leyen proceeded with the engagement. This decision raises questions about the EU’s commitment to its stated policies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Role of Yad Vashem

Following his tenure with the Yesha Council, Dayan was appointed to lead Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust remembrance center. This position has afforded him a veneer of respectability, which may explain the EU’s willingness to overlook his past advocacy for settlement expansion. However, this association with Holocaust remembrance contrasts sharply with the EU’s silence on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leading to accusations of moral inconsistency.

EU’s Inaction Amidst Escalating Violence

The European Union’s response to the escalating violence in Gaza has been widely criticized as inadequate. While the EU has imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, it has refrained from taking similar measures against Israel, despite mounting evidence of human rights violations. This disparity has led to accusations of structural racism and double standards in EU foreign policy.

Ursula von der Leyen’s decision to engage with Dani Dayan and the EU’s broader approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict raise significant questions about the bloc’s commitment to international law and human rights. As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the EU’s credibility on the global stage is increasingly under scrutiny. The need for a coherent and principled foreign policy that upholds the rights and dignity of all peoples is more urgent than ever.