The European Union has reached an agreement to impose sanctions on certain violent Israeli settler groups, marking an end to a longstanding impasse over this issue. However, the measures have been described as merely a “baby step” by at least one member of the European Parliament. Kaja Kallas, who serves as the EU’s foreign policy chief, remarked that actions of violence and extremism come with repercussions. Despite this move, the 27-member bloc remains divided on implementing more stringent trade sanctions.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that the EU is targeting Israeli organizations that support the violent and extremist colonization of the West Bank, as well as their leaders. He emphasized the urgency of stopping these “most serious and intolerable acts” immediately, sharing his thoughts on social media. While the list of individuals and organizations affected by the sanctions has not been made public, it reportedly excludes two controversial Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. These figures were previously sanctioned by the UK for inciting violence against Palestinian communities.
The removal of Hungary’s veto, previously upheld by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, was pivotal in breaking the deadlock. The country’s new pro-EU government played a key role in moving the sanctions forward. Alongside this, the EU also plans to target key figures within Hamas, according to Kallas. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized the EU’s decision, accusing it of being arbitrary and politically motivated, targeting Israeli citizens and entities solely based on their political views.
While the sanctions apply to a limited number of settlers, they fall short of the broader measures some EU member states had advocated. France and Sweden have been vocal in their call for tariffs on products imported from illegal settlements, arguing that the EU should intensify pressure on Israel to cease its settlement activities. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated that imposing tariffs on these goods is the most feasible option.
Enacting a ban on products requires unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states, whereas tariffs could be implemented with a majority vote. Under the existing EU-Israel association agreement, goods produced in the occupied territories do not benefit from preferential terms, although trade with these areas is not outright prohibited.