2023-12-07 13:00:06
Josep Borell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks during a press conference in Doha, November 19, 2023. AFP
While the United States announced sanctions on Tuesday against extremist Israeli settlers accused of attacks against Palestinians, in an attempt to stem the violence in the occupied West Bank, Europe still remains extremely timid on this subject. The foreign ministers of the Twenty-seven must address the issue at their next council, Monday December 11 in Brussels. Unless there is a breakthrough, a decision remains distant, however, as this prospect divides member states, two months after the Hamas attacks against Israel, in the context of the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
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Nothing being certain, France could decide, according to our information, to unilaterally follow the American approach, in order to prohibit the settlers responsible for abuses against the Palestinians in the occupied territories, the entry of its territory. As in the United States, it would not freeze their possible assets at this stage. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is also personally in favor of such a measure, but his government is divided on the issue.
For its part, Germany has changed its positions and agrees to discuss the subject, despite the unconditional support it displays towards Israel. “We think it is important to advance this debate at the European level as well”a spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
At least 250 Palestinians killed
In a preparatory document of the council that The world could read, the European diplomatic service proposes to“exploring reactions to settler violence [israéliens] in the West Bank. This can include visa bans against extremists who attack civilians and the use of the sanctions regime linked to the failure to respect human rights. » According to supporters of this approach, it is a question of preserving the viability of a two-state solution to one day overcome the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
France and Germany, like Spain, Belgium and Ireland, have tried in recent days to prepare the ground. These countries fear that the violence, which has worsened since October 7, are worsening as at least 250 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, including at least eight by settlers and some 240 by the Israeli army.
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“It took three weeks after Joe Biden took his position for the Europeans to even begin to raise the subject… If Europe were serious, there would already be a proposal for a sanctions regime on the table. There’s almost nothing there.” laments a European source in Brussels, who recalls that “This type of sanctions against violent settlers have been mentioned many times over the past ten years, until now without any effect.”
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