Czech Republic Throws Its Support Behind Israel: "We’ll Block New EU Sanctions Ourselves If We Have To"

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar received an unequivocal statement of support today (Wednesday) in Prague from the Czech Republic, as Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Petr Mzinka announced that his country would work to block any attempt by the European Union to advance new measures against Israel, even if it is forced to do so alone. The remarks came at the end of a meeting between the two at the Czech Foreign Ministry, after which they held a joint press conference.

At the press conference, the Czech foreign minister made clear that his country strongly opposes any effort to increase European pressure on Israel. In his words, "There are nonstop attempts within the European Union to bring forward new sanctions against Israel. The Czech Republic will stand by Israel from this moment on. We will not allow any additional trade sanctions, even if we have to block them as the only country."

Mzinka added that his country would also oppose any move involving Israel’s Association Agreement with the European Union: "We will absolutely not allow any suspension or freezing of Israel’s Association Agreement with the European Union, whether in full or in any part of it. On this point, our position will be clear: 'No.'" He added, "We will also look for groups on issues where the vote requires a qualified majority, so that no further aggressive steps by the European Union will harm the State of Israel."

Sa’ar used the platform to level sharp criticism at countries in Europe: "We are witnessing an attempt by certain left-wing governments in Europe to drag the European Union toward a radical anti-Israel approach. The attempt to destroy relations between the European Union and Israel is fueled by the domestic politics of these governments."

Sa’ar continued: "In their radical campaign, these governments are breaking all the rules and acting against Europe’s consensus-based policy. These hostile governments are damaging strategic relations with the only democracy in the Middle East in order to win applause from the most radical states and the terror states in our region."

According to him, alongside those countries, there are also European states taking a different line: "There are European governments that are friendly toward Israel, as in the Czech Republic. They understand that Israel is an asset, and that strategic relations with Israel directly benefit Europe — in security, in the economy, in technology, and more. These governments must prevent the European Union from being dragged into this radical position."

At the close of his remarks, Sa’ar said: "Those same hostile governments are also harming the trans-Atlantic alliance, and are acting against the U.S. They are harming Europe’s own interests. Are Europe’s allies the ayatollah regime in Iran? Radical Islam? Palestinian terror? I know that is not the policy of the Czech Republic."