Israel Denies Plans to Expel Germany and Italy From Civil-Military Coordination Center Amid Sanctions Threats
Israeli diplomatic sources have denied recent reports by the British Financial Times claiming that Israel intends to expel Germany and Italy from the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMMC) in Kiryat Gat. Officials emphasized that there is no intention to remove friendly countries from the center, but Israel will respond if any nations impose sanctions against it, though they did not specify the nature of such responses.
The Israeli government conveyed a warning to Britain that any sanctions, such as bans on importing products from settlements or arms embargoes, would prompt retaliatory measures in areas important to the UK, including the Kiryat Gat command center. Senior officials involved in Israel-Europe relations criticized the expulsion of the Netherlands from the center as "sheer madness," warning that the current government mistakenly believes such actions will gain electoral support, while in reality, the next government will face significant challenges in repairing these relationships.
The officials highlighted that the Netherlands holds considerable influence within the European Union and that its removal could harm Israel's standing in Brussels, as other countries tend to follow Amsterdam's lead. The expulsions of the Netherlands and Spain from the center followed their anti-Israel policies, including legislation banning trade with products from Judea, Samaria, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, which are set to take effect soon.
These developments come after 21 countries, including the UK, condemned Israel's approval of the E1 plan, calling it a "death blow" to the Palestinian state and a blatant violation of international law. The UK also summoned Israel's ambassador following the plan's approval. Two days ago, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval, ordered the expulsion of Dutch representatives from the CMMC due to Amsterdam's anti-Israel measures. Spain was similarly expelled in April for its government's anti-Israel stance and actions perceived as harming Israeli and US interests, including during the conflict with Iran.
