Ongoing discord in the Middle East - Baerbock leaves the door open for potential new Israeli sanctions
The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, doesn't dismiss the idea of endorsing EU sanctions aimed at two extreme-right Israeli cabinet members. Baerbock clarified during an EU gathering that she believes only lawful stipulations and accusations against these individuals should dictate the decision. She emphasized the necessity to evaluate each situation independently to determine if these factors justify the implementation of sanctions.
EU Diplomatic Chief Josep Borrell earlier suggested to EU nations in writing that Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Aryeh Smotrich and Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir be included in EU sanctions for inciting hatred and human rights abuses. This would result in their prohibition from entering the EU and potentially the freezing of their EU-based assets.
Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have recently sparked controversy with their remarks against Palestinians and are far-right allies to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Moreover, both are advocates of the controversial Israeli settlement policy in the occupied West Bank, which is deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice.
Recently, Ben-Gvir proposed halting aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip as a means of pressuring the governing Palestinian extremist group Hamas into surrendering. Smotrich shared similar views, justifying a halt in aid goods shipments until the release of all Israeli prisoners held by Hamas as morally righteous, despite the potential consequence of causing the starvation of over two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He acknowledged, however, that international laws would prevent such action from being enacted.
As per Israeli data, Hamas is currently holding over 100 hostages. Nevertheless, around a third of them are believed to have perished. On October 7, last year, Palestinian terrorists kidnapped more than 250 individuals from Israel and into the Gaza Strip. The ensuing terror strike claimed around 1,200 lives. Israel's military retaliated with intense attacks on Gaza, reportedly resulting in over 40,000 deaths according to Palestinian reports.
The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, expressed her stance on EU sanctions against the Israeli cabinet members during a EU gathering, stating that only lawful accusations should guide the decision. The EU Diplomatic Chief Josep Borrell previously suggested including Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Aryeh Smotrich and Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in EU sanctions due to their incitement of hatred and human rights abuses.
