Israeli settlers could face further sanctions in coming days in protest at the escalation of illegal settlements in the West Bank and a surge in violence by settlers against Palestinians, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said yesterday.
The European Union imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers and organisations that support them late last month.
Speaking to Public Senat television and RTL radio, Barrot did not name the European countries he said could impose further measures. But in a reference to the previous EU sanctions, he said: “We could go further, and in the coming days, further sanctions could be imposed.”
His remarks follow escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and underscore anger in many Western countries toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which has expanded settlements. Diplomats say that expansion is aimed at undermining prospects for a Palestinian state.
Reuters reported on Saturday, citing European diplomats, that France is working with several countries to step up pressure on Israel by pressing ahead with co-ordinated national sanctions targeting individuals linked to violence in the West Bank.
“I am extremely concerned about the escalation of illegal settlement activity in the West Bank and the surge in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians,” Barrot said.
“This is why I have pushed for sanctions to be imposed not only on those responsible for this violence, but also on the entities, companies and organisations in Israel that are providing these extremist settlers with the means to drive Palestinians from their land, burn their crops and destroy their public buildings,” he said.