Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said he hopes to get unanimity from the EU regarding sanctions against ‘’violent settlers.’’

 

EU Foreign Ministers, who are meeting Monday in Brussels,  are discussing a proposal by Ireland and Spain to sanction ‘’violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians’’ in the West Bank.

While France and Germany have supported such sanctions, smaller member states like Hungary and Czechia are reportedly still not agreeing. Unanimity of the 27 member states is needed for such a decision on sanctions.

Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said he hopes to get unanimity from the EU regarding sanctions against ‘’violent settlers.’’

“Ireland favors sanctions on violent settlers in the West Bank, we regret that unity and unanimity still hasn’t occurred within the Foreign Affairs Council to date,” he told reporters at a doorstep ahead of Monday’s meeting of EU Foreign Ministers. He added that  Gaza’s ordinary people are living “hell on earth” at the moment.

Hungary and Czechia, who are two staunch allies of Israel in the EU, made clear during the last few weeks that  they were not ready to let the proposal go forward for now.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said that now was “definitely not the time” to sanction Israeli settlers, adding that the EU’s focus should be on helping Israel to defeat Hamas and free the hostages.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said his country was not “substantively” blocking sanctions on settlers inciting violence but did not want them to come alongside measures against Hamas.

“An act of terrorism is not on the same level as acts by settlers,” he said. “These things cannot be connected.”

Earlier this month, citing “high levels of extremist settler violence, forced displacement of people and villages, and property destruction”, US President Joe Biden issued an executive order that blocks funds and imposes travel bans on people and organisations involved in settler violence.

The United Kingdom also announced sanctions on four Israeli settlers.

On Monday, the ministers will will also discuss the situation in the Middle East, including developments on the ground and in the wider region. On this occasion they will have an informal exchange of views with the United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag.

Last Friday, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said that the European Union is ‘’very concerned’’ about Israeli government plans for a possible ground operation in Rafah, where well over a million Palestinians are currently sheltering from the fighting.

‘’The EU recognises the right of Israel to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law. The EU asks the Israeli Government not to take military action in Rafah that would worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation and prevent the urgently needed provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance,’’ Borrell said in a statement.

He added : ‘’The EU reiterates the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians at all times in line with International Humanitarian Law and to respect the 26 January order of the International Court of Justice, which is legally binding.’’

‘’The EU reiterates its call on Hamas for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.’’