Netanyahu criticizes EU over double standards regarding Cyprus and West Bank settlements

On August 30, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a public attack against the European Union, accusing it of hypocrisy regarding its stance on Israeli settlement plans in the West Bank. The criticism follows the decision of the Slovenian government, led by Prime Minister Janez Janša, to block a joint declaration of the 27 EU member states that would have formally opposed the Israeli 'E1' settlement project.

Netanyahu publicly thanked Janša via social media for his courage and leadership in challenging the EU's consensus. The Israeli leader explicitly linked the situation to the Cyprus issue, stating that the EU remains silent regarding the Turkish military occupation of northern Cyprus—an EU member state—while simultaneously expressing outrage over Israel’s decision to build on its ancestral land. Netanyahu praised Slovenia for asserting its status as a sovereign and equal member of the EU, framing the country's refusal to support the joint declaration as an exercise of national rights rather than a diplomatic provocation.

The situation highlights the ongoing friction between the Israeli government and the European Union over settlement policies. While the EU maintains that such developments are illegal under international law, Israel continues to assert its historical rights to these territories, utilizing the internal divisions within the European bloc to counter diplomatic pressure.