Middle East conflict: Israeli ministers face EU sanctions for the first time

For the first time, the EU is considering sanctions against members of the Israeli government. At a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, chief diplomat Josep Borrell presented a proposal for punitive measures against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. They are accused of human rights violations and incitement to hatred.

Ben-Gvir had recently spoken out in favor of stopping aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip in order to force the terrorist organization Hamas, which rules the country, to give up.

Finance Minister Smotrich expressed similar views. He described a possible blockade of aid supplies until all Israeli Hamas hostages were released as moral and justified, even if this meant the starvation of two million people in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, he admitted that the international community would not allow such an approach.

According to Israeli figures, Hamas currently has more than 100 hostages in its power. At least a third of them are believed to be dead. In total, Palestinian terrorists kidnapped more than 250 people from Israel to the coastal region on October 7 last year. Around 1,200 people were killed in the unprecedented terrorist attack. Israel’s army responded with devastating attacks in Gaza, in which, according to Palestinian sources, more than 40,000 people have already been killed.

Baerbock does not rule out German approval

It is still unclear whether and, if so, when Borrell’s proposal will be implemented. The background to this is that sanctions decisions in the European Union must be made unanimously and countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary have so far been rather critical of calls for sanctions against Israel.

However, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock did not rule out German approval of the plans at the EU meeting. The Green politician made it clear that, in her view, only the legal requirements and the allegations against the politicians should be decisive. It must be examined on a case-by-case basis whether these are sufficient for sanctions, she said.

If the sanctions plans are implemented, those affected would no longer be allowed to enter the EU. In addition, any assets they have in the EU may have to be frozen.

Diplomats in Brussels cite ongoing efforts to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East as an argument against sanctioning the ministers. Against this background, it could be counterproductive to endanger channels of communication with the Israeli government through sanctions, they say. So far, the EU has only imposed sanctions on a few radical Israeli settlers and their structures. However, both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are also advocates of the settlement policy in occupied territories in the West Bank, which the highest UN court considers illegal.

Israel’s Foreign Minister criticizes anti-Israel elements

Israel sharply criticized Borrell’s proposal. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned of possible anti-Israel decisions before the meeting and criticized that these were being pushed by “anti-Israeli elements.” In view of the threat to Israel from Iran and “its proxy terrorist organizations,” the free world must stand by Israel and not turn against the country, he commented.

Borrell responded on Thursday that some Israeli ministers had spread unacceptable hate messages against Palestinians and proposed things that clearly violated international law and amounted to an incitement to commit war crimes. In his view, the EU should use its instruments without taboos to ensure respect for international humanitarian law.

Pressure on the EU is growing

Calls for the EU to change course in its dealings with Israel have recently become much louder. Shortly before the EU foreign ministers’ meeting, the human rights organization Amnesty International called for tough European sanctions because of Israel’s settlement policy.

In a letter to participants, Amnesty International called for a comprehensive arms embargo and a ban on investments in certain Israeli companies and banks. The organization also recommended that the EU ban trade in goods from Israeli settlements in occupied territories. This should also include East Jerusalem.

The human rights activists cite the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, published in July, as the reason for their demands. In this opinion, the highest UN court takes the view that Israel’s occupation is illegal and must be ended as soon as possible.

Israel conquered and occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967. The Palestinians claim these territories for their own state. Although Israel evacuated the Gaza Strip in 2005, it continued to control the land, air and sea borders. The Gaza War following the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023 has significantly increased tensions.