- The EU's top diplomat proposes imposing sanctions on conservative Israeli government officials.
EU's Top Diplomat Josep Borrell has Proposed Penalties against Israeli Government Figures to the 27 EU Nations. Financial Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are set to be hit, as confirmed by various EU sources to German news agency dpa ahead of a EU foreign ministers' meeting on Thursday.
Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have stirred up controversy with their remarks towards Palestinians and are right-wing coalition allies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These individuals are also advocates for the settlement policy in the occupied West Bank, which is deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice.
Israeli Policymakers Want to Utilize Aid Suspensions as a Tool
Ben-Gvir has recently suggested halting aid to the Gaza Strip as a means to pressure the ruling extremist organization Hamas into surrendering. Similarly, Finance Minister Smotrich has said that stopping humanitarian aid until all Israeli hostages are released is ethical, even if that means the death of over two million people in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas currently holds 107 hostages, with at least a third believed to be deceased. On October 7, 2022, Palestinian terrorists kidnapped more than 250 people from Israel and took them to the coastal region, resulting in around 1,200 casualties. Israel responded with heavy attacks in Gaza, causing the death of over 40,000 people, according to Palestinian records.
According to Borrell's plan, penalties against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir could be imposed due to inciting hate speech and human rights violations. Their EU assets would be frozen, and they would be barred from entering the EU.
EU's Move Might Backfire?
However, it remains uncertain whether or when the plan will be implemented. EU sanctions are contingent upon unanimous approval, and nations like Germany, Czech Republic, and Hungary have so far opposed sanctions against Israel.
Diplomats in Brussels argue that the ongoing endeavor to de-escalate the Middle Eastern conflict makes sanctions counterproductive, as they might negatively impact dialogue channels with the Israeli government. To date, the EU has only imposed sanctions on a handful of radical Israeli settlers and their structures.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated on the X platform: "We are actively collaborating with our European partners to prevent anti-Israel decisions at tomorrow's EU foreign ministers' meeting, instigated by anti-Israel factions." Given the threat from Iran and its "proxy terrorist organizations," the free world should support Israel and not turn against it.
Pressure on the EU is escalating
Calls for a shift in the EU's approach to Israel have increased recently. Human rights group Amnesty International, for example, demanded severe European sanctions against Israel's settlement policy before the EU foreign ministers' meeting.
In a letter to attendees, Amnesty International advocates for a total arms embargo and a prohibition on investments in certain Israeli companies and banks. Moreover, the organization advises that the EU should prohibit trade in goods from Israeli settlements in occupied territories, including East Jerusalem.
The human rights group cites the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) July report on Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories as the basis for its demands. The highest UN court maintains that Israel's occupation is unlawful and should be terminated immediately.
Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and has maintained occupation ever since. Palestinians claim these areas for their independent state. Although Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it continues to govern its land, air, and sea borders. The Gaza conflict following the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, has further escalated tensions.
The EU, led by its Top Diplomat Josep Borrell, is considering imposing penalties on Israeli government figures due to their controversial actions and human rights violations. This potential action follows criticisms from EU sources towards Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who are known for their divisive remarks towards Palestinians and support for the settlement policy in the occupied West Bank.
If implemented, the EU's penalties against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir could involve freezing their assets and prohibiting their entry into the EU, reflecting the EU's stance on inciting hate speech and violations of human rights. This proposed action stems from the EU's concern with the actions of certain Israeli polymakers, as outlined in Borrell's plan.
