EU approves sanctions on Israeli settlers after Hungarian backing
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- The EU agreed to sanction Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, enabled by backing from Hungary’s new government, marking a political breakthrough after a long deadlock.
- Sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans targeting extremist settlers and Hamas members, reflecting the EU's stance against ongoing violence and illegal settlement expansion in the occupied territory.
- The move follows previous EU sanctions on violent settlers and comes amid concerns over Israel’s recent measures to strengthen control over the West Bank, which may violate Oslo peace agreements.
- The EU is also considering trade restrictions on products from settlements, but such measures face challenges due to the need for unanimous or qualified majority approval among member states.
- Israel condemned the sanctions as "arbitrary," defending the Jewish people's historic right to live in the land, while some European countries continue to push for stronger actions against Israel over alleged war crimes.