The European Union, and the Western world in general, has long defined itself as the representative of universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. These principles have been put forward not only as the foundation of the internal political order but also as a key source of legitimacy in foreign policy. The “Normative Power Europe” approach, which came to the fore after the Cold War, argued that the Union built a sphere of influence on a global scale not through military or economic capacity, but through universal values. However, this value-based claim has often clashed with realpolitik considerations in practice, undermining Europe’s credibility in the international system.
The cases of Ukraine and Palestine are among the most visible examples of Europe’s double standards. The unity and strong reactions displayed in response to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine presented a picture where Europe’s value-based claims were translated into action, whereas the silence or limited responses shown toward Israel’s occupation and military operations in Palestinian territories reveal that the same principles are applied selectively in line with interests. This situation has called into question not only Europe’s consistency in foreign policy but also the system of values that constitutes the very foundation of its identity construction.
Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, and especially its large-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022, created a major shock in Europe and brought the Union to an unprecedented level of integration. The European Union imposed harsh sanctions on Russia in the fields of energy, finance, transportation, and technology; provided Ukraine with billions of euros in economic support and military aid; expelled Russian banks from international payment systems; and granted temporary protection status to millions of Ukrainian refugees. European public opinion also displayed strong solidarity with Ukraine during this period. The streets of European capitals were filled with Ukrainian flags, and political leaders traveled to Kyiv to salute Ukraine’s resistance as a struggle for freedom. This stance was seen as an example of value-based mobilization aligned with Europe’s own principles, and Ukraine was defined as “part of the European family,” thereby establishing a sense of identity-based affinity. Ukraine’s White,” “Christian,” and “European” identity fostered empathy in European public opinion and facilitated societal support for political decisions.
On the other hand, Israel’s ongoing occupation, blockade, and military operations in the Palestinian territories clearly demonstrate how selectively Europe applies its value-based claims. For decades, the Palestinian people have lived under an occupation in violation of international law; civilian settlements are targeted, the blockade of Gaza prevents the fulfillment of basic humanitarian needs, and especially children lose their lives due to hunger, thirst, and health problems. Between 2023 and 2025, intense bombardments in Gaza in particular resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, the vast majority of whom were defenseless women and children. Reports by international institutions have revealed that Israel’s practices involve serious violations ranging from human rights abuses to war crimes, and even acts that amount to genocide. Despite this, Europe’s response has often remained limited to diplomatic rhetoric; statements such as “proportionality must be observed,” “a two-state solution should be supported,” or “we condemn the violence” fall short in the face of the grave humanitarian tragedies on the ground. No sanctions or concrete pressure mechanisms are being employed; on the contrary, many European countries continue to sell arms to Israel and make political statements supporting Israel’s security priorities. While mass demonstrations in support of Ukraine’s resistance have taken place across European streets, protests organized for Palestine have in some countries faced restrictions or have been criminalized. In this way, Europe’s values-based policy is applied differently depending on identity, geopolitics, and calculations of interest.
A recent example of this double standard can be seen in the statement made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding Israel. Merz openly admitted that Israel was carrying out the West’s “dirty work” in the Palestinian territories, thus making clear that European countries are pursuing their strategic and security-oriented interests through Israel. This admission demonstrates that Europe’s silence on the Palestinian issue does not stem merely from diplomatic caution or ethical dilemmas, but is also supported by a deliberate strategic orientation. Merz’s words confirm the contradiction between Europe’s normative discourse and its realpolitik practices, while also revealing the geopolitical motivation behind its double standards.
This reality severely undermines Europe’s self-proclaimed role as a value-driven power and generates a crisis of credibility on the global stage. Europe’s muted stance on the Palestinian question is shaped primarily by geopolitical calculations, historical legacies, and alliance commitments. Given the Middle East’s direct relevance to Europe’s vital concerns, such as energy security, migration, and the threat of radicalization, the Union avoids rupturing its relations with Israel and, constrained by its close partnership with the United States, limits itself to a restrained diplomatic posture toward Israel.
Another factor is identity politics. While Ukrainians are perceived in European public opinion as “one of us,” Palestinians are pushed into the position of “the other.” Media discourse reinforces this perception: civilian casualties in Ukraine are prominently and dramatically reported on front pages, whereas deaths in Palestine are often described as “people who lost their lives in clashes” or “civilians mistakenly targeted.” Ukrainian resistance is portrayed as heroic struggle for freedom, while Palestinian resistance is stigmatized as “terrorism.” This difference in framing illustrates how selective Europe is in its politics of values.
Power asymmetries in the international system also foster this double standard. Building a strong and unified front against Russia has been seen by Europe as a necessity directly tied to its own security. By contrast, on the issue of Israel, there are significant divisions among European countries. Pro-Israel policies of major actors such as Germany and France make joint sanctions impossible. As a result, while Europe has been able to demonstrate a capacity for collective action in the case of Ukraine, it remains fragmented and ineffective about Palestine.
As a result of all these factors, Europe’s claim to be a value-based power faces a profound legitimacy crisis. The instrumentalization of human rights, freedom, and the rule of law in line with interest-driven calculations erodes Europe’s credibility at the global level. In particular, countries of the Global South view Europe’s mobilization for Ukraine and silence on Palestine as certain hypocrisy, which undermines trust in the West. Public opinion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America increasingly believes that Europe defends human rights only insofar as they align with its own interests, while ignoring them otherwise. This perception weakens Europe’s claim to leadership in values worldwide and limits its influence in a multipolar international system.
Within Europe itself, civil society actors, academic circles, and human rights organizations also criticize this contradiction, emphasizing that the selective application of values erodes Europe’s democratic identity. Justice cannot be partial; human rights are either universal or valid for no one. Europe’s divergent approaches to Ukraine and Palestine undermine the internal consistency of its own values and reduce them to little more than political rhetoric. If Europe truly aspires to be a value-based power, it must defend its principles with universal consistency, independent of identity, interests, and geopolitical considerations. Otherwise, the streets decorated with flags for Ukraine and the silence for Palestine will be remembered in history as a hypocrisy that destroyed Europe’s values.
