The European Union has reached an agreement to impose sanctions on violent Israeli settlers, marking the end of a prolonged stalemate on the issue. However, the move is seen as merely a modest initial step by some, including members of the European Parliament. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, emphasized the consequences of violence and extremism in her statement on Monday. Despite this development, a consensus among the 27 EU member states on more substantial trade sanctions remains elusive.
France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, highlighted the EU’s decision to impose sanctions on key Israeli organizations and their leaders, which are accused of supporting the violent colonization of the West Bank. He urged for an immediate cessation of these intolerable acts. Although the agreement in principle was reached, the complete list of sanctioned individuals has not been released. Notably, the list does not include Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who were sanctioned by the UK last June for inciting violence against Palestinian communities.
The breakthrough came after Hungary’s new pro-EU government removed its veto on the sanctions, a stance previously upheld by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Additionally, the EU plans to sanction prominent figures within Hamas. Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, criticized the EU’s decision, describing it as arbitrary and politically motivated sanctions against Israeli citizens and entities based on their political views.
The sanctions imposed on a select group of settlers are considered insufficient by some member states. Both France and Sweden have advocated for tariffs on imported products from illegal settlements, arguing for increased EU pressure on Israel to halt its settlement policies. Sweden’s foreign minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, described the imposition of tariffs as the most feasible proposal. Unlike banning products, which requires unanimous approval, tariffs can be enacted by a majority vote among the member states.
Under the existing EU-Israel association agreement, goods originating from the occupied territories do not benefit from preferential trade terms, yet trade is not explicitly prohibited. This agreement continues to shape the economic interactions between the EU and Israel amid ongoing tensions over settlement activities.