BRUSSELS – On Friday,
European diplomats revealed that the EU is edging closer to an agreement to
impose sanctions on Israeli settlers who perpetrate attacks against
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
اضافة اعلان
Concerns have been mounting
among European officials regarding the escalating violence targeting
Palestinians in the West Bank. Despite the US and Britain already implementing
similar measures, the 27 EU member states have encountered challenges in reaching
a unanimous decision on imposing sanctions against those responsible for the
violence, Al-Mamlaka TV reported.
Notably, some EU member
states with strong ties to Israel, such as Germany and Austria, have signaled
their willingness to support sanctions against violent settlers, particularly
in light of additional sanctions previously imposed on Hamas.
Hungary, known for its
staunch support of the Israeli government, had been the primary holdout against
sanctions on settlers. However, diplomats now report a shift in Budapest's
position, indicating that the proposed sanctions have made progress within the
EU system. While some EU foreign ministers may greenlight the sanctions as soon
as Monday, others suggest that more deliberation time may be necessary.
A diplomat familiar with the
matter stated, "There is an agreement at the working group level."
Another diplomat hinted at the deteriorating situation in the region,
suggesting a potential reason for Hungary's change of heart.
Efforts to reach Hungarian
officials at the Foreign Ministry for comments were not immediately successful.
The rift over proposed
sanctions underscores the broader divisions within the EU concerning the
Israeli war on Gaza, with some member states firmly supporting Israel. In
contrast, others lean towards the Palestinian cause.
According to diplomats,
initial proposals under consideration aimed at imposing sanctions on
approximately 12 individuals or organizations. While the exact details of these
sanctions remain unclear, officials suggest they may include travel bans to the
EU.
One diplomat stated, "It
is likely that their number will be fewer than twelve now after negotiations,
but that is okay because the important thing now is to move forward,"
reports indicate.
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