European Union Fails to Reach Consensus on Sanctions for Israeli Minister

European Union member states have failed to reach a consensus on proposals to impose economic sanctions on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. According to Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, “many” member states had proposed economic restrictions, but no agreement was reached.

Ben-Gvir has been criticized by several individual EU states for his treatment of activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla who were detained by Israeli soldiers as they attempted to reach Gaza last month. In response, efforts to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir at the EU level have encountered resistance.

Kallas did not specify which member states opposed the proposal, but it is understood that Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic are among those in opposition. She also stated that “many” member states called for proposals from the EU Commission to prepare options on limiting trade with illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank.

The EU Commission will prepare a list of options for possible trade measures, including measures aimed at preventing imports of goods originating from illegal settlements. This follows recent efforts by the EU to impose economic restrictions on violent settlers responsible for human rights abuses in the West Bank.

Source: Al Jazeera