For the first time, the EU is targeting radical Israeli settlers in the West Bank. A single-digit number of people are no longer allowed to enter the EU or do business in the EU. Your assets will be frozen.
The European Union will impose sanctions against radical Israeli settlers in the West Bank for the first time. As EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced, the community’s foreign ministers agreed on corresponding plans in Brussels, which now have to be formalized.
As the dpa news agency learned from diplomatic circles, the measures will initially affect a single-digit number of people. Their assets in the EU will be frozen, they will no longer be allowed to enter member states or do business in the EU. The basis for the measures is the EU sanctions instrument to punish serious human rights violations.
The sanctions should actually have been decided weeks ago. However, the Hungarian government, which is considered particularly Israel-friendly in the EU, has only now signaled that it no longer wants to block the plans.
Block radical settlers peace process
The background to the sanctions plans are violent acts by extremist settlers against Palestinians – especially after the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7th. The attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, like settlement construction itself, are seen as one of the obstacles to efforts to find a long-term peace solution to the Middle East conflict.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said it was crucial for Germany to make it clear that both were not in accordance with international law. With the sanctions, the EU is following the example of the USA. They have already imposed punitive measures aimed at extremist Israeli settlers. The USA accuses those affected, among other things, of taking part in violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
Further sanctions against Hamas
At the same time, the foreign ministers also agreed on further punitive measures against Hamas. Brussels has already imposed sanctions on the terrorist militia several times. Most recently, the EU put the commander of the armed wing, Mohammed Deif, on its terror list. He is considered to be the planner of the unprecedented massacre in Israel on October 7th, as a result of which around 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 240 people were kidnapped into the Gaza Strip. Hamas itself was classified as a terrorist organization by the EU around 20 years ago.