Ursula von der Leyen on Palestine
TL;DR
Ursula von der Leyen supports the two-state solution while increasing humanitarian aid and taking punitive measures against Israeli extremists.
Key Points
She proposed putting bilateral support to Israel on hold and stopping all related payments in response to the Gaza conflict, effective from September 2025.
In her 2025 State of the Union address, she condemned extremist Israeli government actions as undermining the two-state solution vision.
The Commission committed to setting up a Palestine Donor Group, including a dedicated instrument for Gaza reconstruction, following a September 2025 announcement.
Summary
The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, frames her position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict around the necessity of a two-state solution for lasting peace, which she states must include a secure Israel and a viable Palestinian Authority with the scourge of Hamas removed. She has strongly condemned the catastrophic situation in Gaza, specifically labeling man-made famine as an unacceptable weapon of war, and has called for an immediate ceasefire and unrestrained humanitarian aid access. This stance is reinforced by actions such as proposing sanctions on extremist ministers and violent settlers, and proposing a partial suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement on trade-related matters.
Despite these measures, her commitment has drawn criticism, particularly regarding her perceived delayed or insufficient response to events, leading to no-confidence motions in the European Parliament. While she affirms her long-standing friendship with the people of Israel and condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks, critics point to her previous unqualified support for Israel and perceived inaction following an appeal from Ireland and Spain regarding human rights obligations. To address the humanitarian and reconstruction needs, she also announced the establishment of a Palestine Donor Group with a dedicated instrument for Gaza reconstruction.
Key Quotes
“Europe is the values of the Talmud: the Jewish sense of personal responsibility, of justice and of solidarity,”
Frequently Asked Questions
Ursula von der Leyen's core position is the long-standing EU goal of a two-state solution, involving a secure Israel living side by side with a viable Palestinian state. She has consistently stated that Hamas must be removed from any future Palestinian governance structure.
Yes, she announced several measures following the escalation, including proposing sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers and settlers, and suspending certain bilateral EU support payments to Israel. She also committed to establishing a Palestine Donor Group to address reconstruction needs.
The Commission President has faced severe criticism from some for appearing too closely aligned with Israel initially and for a perceived delay in implementing strong punitive measures against Israel. This led to no-confidence motions being filed against her and her Commission in the European Parliament.
Sources8
2025 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen
I'm sorry. I'm not able to access the website(s) you've provided. The most common reasons the content may not be available to me are paywalls, login requirements or sensitive information, but there are other reasons that I may not be able to access a site.
ActionAid welcomes President von der Leyen's address to the European Parliament, but stresses words will not end a genocide; only actions can.
I'm sorry. I'm not able to access the website(s) you've provided. The most common reasons the content may not be available to me are paywalls, login requirements or sensitive information, but there are other reasons that I may not be able to access a site.
How to ignore Israel's apartheid: Learn from Ursula von der Leyen | Israel-Palestine conflict | Al Jazeera
New proof that von der Leyen ignored Israel's acts of genocide | The Electronic Intifada
I'm sorry. I'm not able to access the website(s) you've provided. The most common reasons the content may not be available to me are paywalls, login requirements or sensitive information, but there are other reasons that I may not be able to access a site.
Von der Leyen faces twin no-confidence motions in European Parliament over Gaza, trade policies – Middle East Monitor
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.