The European Union has taken a significant step by imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers, breaking a longstanding impasse on the matter. This decision, while seen as a “baby step” by some members of the European Parliament, reflects a shift in the EU’s stance towards addressing violence and extremism. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, emphasized the consequences of such actions, stating, “Violence and extremism carry consequences.”
Despite this progress, the EU’s 27 member states remain divided on implementing more stringent trade sanctions. France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, announced that the EU is targeting key Israeli organizations that back the extremist and violent colonization of the West Bank, along with their leaders. He expressed urgency in addressing these “most serious and intolerable acts,” urging immediate cessation.
The agreement, reached in principle on Monday, does not disclose the full list of sanctioned individuals. However, it is understood that two Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, are excluded from this list. These ministers were previously sanctioned by the UK in June for inciting violence against Palestinian communities. The breakthrough in the EU’s deadlock came after Hungary’s new pro-EU government lifted its veto, which had been in place under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Additionally, sanctions will be imposed on prominent Hamas figures.
Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister, criticized the EU’s decision, describing it as “arbitrary and political,” accusing the EU of imposing sanctions based on political views without justification. While the sanctions target a small group of settlers, some EU member states, notably France and Sweden, have advocated for stronger measures. They propose tariffs on products from illegal settlements, emphasizing the need to pressure Israel to halt its settlement activities. Sweden’s foreign minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, described tariffs as “the most realistic proposal.”
Implementing a ban on products from settlements requires unanimous agreement among all 27 EU member states, whereas tariffs could be enacted by a majority vote. Under the existing EU-Israel association agreement, goods originating from occupied territories are excluded from preferential trade terms, although trade itself is not prohibited. This nuanced approach highlights the complexities the EU faces in balancing its trade policies with its stance on international law and human rights.