European Union found the courage—and agreement—to impose sanctions on violent Israeli settlers

Brussels – More than four months after EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell proposed to impose restrictive measures against Israeli settlers guilty of gross human rights violations against Palestinian communities in the occupied territories, the European Union is breaking the tie and including four individuals and two entities in the list of the EU human rights sanctions regime, guilty of “torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the violation of Palestinians’ right to property and private and family life in the West Bank.” They are the radical right-wing Jewish supremacist group Lehava, very close to Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the youth organization Hilltop Youth, and two of its leaders, Meir Ettinger and Elisha Yered, but also Neria Ben Pazi, who has been accused since 2021 of repeatedly attacking Palestinians in Wadi Seeq and Deir Jarir, and Yinon Levi, who has taken part in multiple acts of violence against villages near his residence in the illegal Mitarim farm outpost.

The latter two were already targeted by sanctions imposed in February and March by the United States. For them and for all persons and entities listed in the sanctions regime (which now applies to 108 natural and legal persons and 28 entities from different countries), the freezing of assets held on EU soil and a ban on providing funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit is ordered. In addition, individuals will be prevented from entering EU soil.

The Palestine Mission to the European Union rejoices: ambassador Adel Atieh stated that “the terrorist organizations Lehava, Hilltop Youth and settlers Meir Ettinger and Elisha Yered, Neria Ben Pazi and Yinon Levi are the main individuals and terrorist entities responsible for the murder of hundreds of Palestinians.” For the Palestinian National Authority, “this is a crucial step in upholding international law and promoting the cause of justice.” However, the ambassador stressed “the urgent need for more tangible steps to address the root causes of the continued violations of Palestinian rights,” because “the Israeli occupation continues to operate with impunity, perpetuating the injustice and suffering of millions of Palestinians.”

The EU Council’s decision follows what the heads of state and government of the 27 put in black and white at the 21-22 March European Council, when leaders called for an “immediate end to violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and safe access to holy sites” and affirmed that “those responsible for human rights violations must be held accountable.” Urging the Council to “accelerate the work to adopt targeted restrictive measures.”

Faced with the carelessness with which, despite the already dire situation in Gaza and a series of UN resolutions deeming them illegal under international law, on March 6, the Israeli government announced the go-ahead for the construction of 3,400 new homes within several colonies in the occupied territories, EU leaders had strongly condemned and urged Israel to reverse these decisions.

Increasing settler violence in the West Bank since October 7

However, as Borrell stated already last December 11, it was time to “turn words into deeds.” And the political signal given today by the 27 countries, while certainly not likely to be decisive, is strong. In the past year alone, Israel has approved the construction of more than 18 thousand homes in the occupied Palestinian territories, and, according to a recent investigation by The Guardian, in East Jerusalem alone, there are more than 20 projects approved or advanced since last October 7.

Since the Hamas terror attack that triggered Israel’s fierce military operation in Gaza, incidents of violence against the Palestinian population in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have increased dramatically. A report by the NGO Human Rights Watch, published April 17, accuses settlers, often backed by the army, of expelling “at least seven communities” from their villages from October 7 to date.

According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Ocha-Opt), there have been 774 attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians since October 7. Since that day, 451 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including 112 minors. Of these, 435 by the army and 16 in settler raids. Palestinians injured in various incidents involving Israeli forces or settlers numbered 4,890. In the same period, nine Israelis, including five members of Israeli forces, were killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and 91 were injured, including 59 members of Israeli forces.