European lawmakers made an outright call today for trade sanctions to be placed on Israel ahead of a meeting of EU governments next week on the escalating Middle East violence.
Members of the European Parliament voted 269 to 208 in favour of a resolution urging the 15-nation European Union to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel.
The Jewish state, which sends 27 per cent of its exports to EU countries, enjoys preferential trade terms under the pact.
The vote is not binding on EU governments, whose foreign ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday to consider whether to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Association Council - which oversees the agreement - to pressure Israel into halting its West Bank incursion.
The United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations called on Israel after a meeting in Madrid this morning to withdraw its forces immediately from Palestinian cities, an operation which was launched after a spate of suicide attacks.
But the offensive raged on and a suicide bomber killed eight travellers on a bus in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
Spanish Foreign Minister Mr Josep Pique, whose country holds the EU presidency, told the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that the bloc was beginning to contemplate sanctions.
Israel's defence ministry said yesterday Germany had delayed delivery of key parts for its Merkava tanks. EU officials said other members of the bloc had suspended supplies to Israel of military equipment and spare parts which could be used in action against civilians.