Politics

EU's Top Diplomat Urges Sanctions Against Israeli Ministers Over 'Hate Messages'

Thursday 29 August 2024 - 17:25

Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, has called on the bloc’s 27 member states to impose sanctions against certain Israeli ministers for their inflammatory statements against Palestinians. Speaking ahead of the EU’s foreign and defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Thursday, Borrell highlighted that these ministers have made statements that are "clearly against international law and incite war crimes."

Borrell did not name specific ministers, but recent weeks have seen him publicly criticize far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for what he described as "sinister" statements. "I initiated the procedures in order to ask the member states ... if they consider appropriate, including in our list of sanctions some Israeli ministers [who have] been launching unacceptable hate messages against the Palestinians," Borrell told reporters.

The Israeli ministers have sparked international outrage, with Smotrich suggesting starving Gaza’s population to secure the release of Israeli captives held in the enclave. Ben-Gvir has made several inflammatory comments about Palestinians, most recently stating he would build a Jewish synagogue at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound – Islam’s third-holiest site and a symbol of Palestinian identity – in occupied East Jerusalem, if he could.

Diplomats suggest that Borrell’s call for sanctions is unlikely to gain the required unanimous agreement of all 27 members to pass. However, it underscores the level of anger among some European officials regarding the comments made by Israeli ministers. The EU has been divided since the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, which triggered Israel’s war on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 Palestinians.

Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic have staunchly defended Israel’s right to self-defense, blocking any attempt at tough measures targeting the Israeli government. In contrast, Ireland, one of the EU’s most pro-Palestinian members, has backed Borrell’s proposal for sanctions against ministers and Israeli groups facilitating the expansion of settlements on Palestinian territory. "It cannot be business as usual," Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin told reporters, citing an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice last month, which called on organizations such as the EU to examine its relationship with Israel in light of the occupation of the West Bank.

Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter also expressed support for sanctions on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. However, other ministers have been less supportive. Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto described Borrell’s proposal as "dangerous," while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said sanctions would not be the "right path" to keep Israel at the negotiating table for a ceasefire in Gaza. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock signaled reluctance over the proposal, noting that EU sanctions are already in place on violent Jewish settlers.

European sanctions typically involve a ban on traveling to the bloc and the seizure of assets held within the EU. Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that his country was working "tirelessly" with its European allies to prevent "anti-Israel decisions" at the foreign ministers’ meeting. "Our message is clear: In a reality where Israel faces threats from Iran and its proxy terror organizations, the free world must stand with Israel, not against it," he wrote on X.

The EU’s internal divisions reflect the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with member states balancing their support for human rights and international law against strategic alliances and regional stability concerns. As the situation in the West Bank and Gaza continues to escalate, the EU’s response will be closely watched by both international observers and the affected populations.