EU Foreign Policy Chief Initiates Process for Potential Sanctions Against Israeli Ministers

The European Union has launched a procedure to consult with EU member states regarding the potential imposition of sanctions on certain Israeli ministers, The Times of Israel reports, citing EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell.

This move comes amid increasing tensions in the region and mounting criticism over inflammatory rhetoric directed at Palestinians.

In a statement to reporters ahead of a meeting with EU foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, Borrell stressed the urgency of the situation.

“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,” he said.

While Borrell did not specify which Israeli officials would be targeted by these potential sanctions, multiple reports have pointed to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir as prominent figures linked to controversial statements that have drawn international condemnation. Both ministers are known for their hardline stances toward the Palestinian territories and their advocacy for policies that many critics argue violate international law.

The proposed sanctions reflect rising concerns within the EU about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in light of recent escalations in violence and increasing reports of human rights abuses. The EU has long maintained a policy of supporting a two-state solution to the conflict, advocating for negotiations that respect the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.