EU Considers Sanctions on Israeli Ministers Over Hate Messages

The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has proposed sanctions against certain Israeli ministers for hate messages against Palestinians. Despite criticism towards ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, unanimous agreement among EU members remains unlikely. Ireland supports Borrell's recommendation targeting settlement expansions and involved ministers.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has called on the bloc's member states to consider imposing sanctions on certain Israeli ministers for their hate messages against Palestinians, which he asserts break international law. He did not specify which ministers or messages were involved but previously criticized Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for their inflammatory statements.

"I initiated the procedure to ask the member states if they consider it appropriate to include in our list of sanctions some Israeli ministers who have been launching unacceptable hate messages against the Palestinians, and proposing things that clearly go against international law," Borrell told reporters at an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.

Diplomats predict that achieving unanimous agreement among the EU's 27 members to sanction Israeli government ministers is unlikely. However, Ireland has voiced support for Borrell's suggestion, emphasizing the recommendation to enforce sanctions against settler organizations and Israeli ministers facilitating the West Bank settlements' expansion.

(With inputs from agencies.)