EU imposes sanctions on extremist settlers over violence in West Bank – POLITICO

The four people affected by the sanctions are Meir Ettinger and Elisha Yered – both leading figures in Hilltop Youth – as well as Neria Ben Pazi and Yinon Levi.

This is the first time the European Union has imposed sanctions on radical Israeli settlers in the West Bank for acts of violence against Palestinians, according to German news agency DPA. wrotequoting diplomats.

In addition to the ban on travel to the EU, those listed under the sanctions regime are subject to the freezing of their assets, as well as a ban on providing funds or economic resources – “directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit.”

On Wednesday, the EU said it was “gravely concerned about the deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank, where settler violence, intimidation and destruction of homes and property have continued to increase sharply in recent days.”

“We condemn all attacks against civilians, including the reported killings of four Palestinians, and call on Israel to intensify its efforts to prevent recurrent settler violence against Palestinians and ensure that perpetrators of crimes are held accountable,” it said. Peter Stano, EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson. and security policy, in a press release.

In December, the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell said he would propose imposing sanctions on “extremist” Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

“We will work to impose sanctions against extremist settlers in the West Bank. I will make a proposal to member states in this regard,” Borrell told a news conference after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Borrell added that he was “alarmed” by the Israeli government’s approval of the construction of 1,700 additional housing units in East Jerusalem to expand settlements. “The EU considers this project illegal under international law,” he said.