European Commission working to impose sanctions on the most violent Israeli settlers

Brussels –

We will work to impose sanctions on extremist settlers in the West Bank. I will make a proposal to the member countries on this, following the example of the U.S. and using our general framework for defending human rights. We are working on this proposal that will be presented to the member countries.” This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, at the press conference at the end of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

the time has come to move from words to actions. I can’t say there was unanimity, we put the proposal on the table and the seae services are working with the member states to come up with a list of people who are known for their violent activity and attacks against Palestinians in the west bank and we will propose sanctions and the member states will decide if they see fit.

Following the U.S. veto of a Security Council resolution calling for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, an extraordinary meeting of the U.N. General Assembly will kick off tomorrow.

I submitted an option paper on the day after in gaza, which was very well received among the ministers. We discussed the catastrophic apocalyptic situation in Gaza. The unprecedented human suffering. Iil 60 to 70 percent of the deaths are civilians. From the Gaza ministry, 18,000 dead. Definitely more, because no one knows how many under the rubble. 85 percent displaced, 1.9 million people. More or less level of destruction equal to germany WWII.

But we are anceh alarmed by the violence in the west bank by Israeli settlers and the fact that israel has approved construction of 1700 more housing units in east Jerusalem to expand settlements that are illegal in international law. We condemn the decision and will prepare a statement to set out our position on this.

Support will be realesed in the next days.

Guiding principles of our action: 1. no more displacement in gaza 2. no occupation of the strip by israel 3. action against hamas including sanctions

We must be fully committed to seeking the two-state solution, which the entire international community is calling for and so far the Israeli government is rejecting.