Borrell asks EU to consider sanctions on 2 Israeli ministers
Reuters
Updated Thu, August 29, 2024
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell speaks during a press conference in Hanoi
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday he has asked the bloc's members to consider imposing sanctions on two Israeli ministers for "hate messages" against Palestinians, messages that he said broke international law.
He did not name either of the ministers. But in recent weeks he has publicly criticised Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for statements he has described as "sinister" and "an incitement to war crimes".
Borrell said EU foreign ministers held an initial discussion about his proposal at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday. He said there was no unanimity - which would be required to impose sanctions - but the debate would continue.
"The ministers will decide. It's up to them, as always. But the process has been launched," he told reporters.
He said he had proposed that the Israeli ministers be sanctioned for violations of human rights. EU sanctions generally mean a ban on travel to the bloc and a freeze on assets held in the EU.
Israel's foreign minister Israel Katz accused Borrell of targeting him with false claims that he had called for Palestinians to be displaced from the West Bank. "I oppose the displacement of any population from their homes," he said.
Diplomats say it is unlikely the EU would find the necessary unanimous agreement among its 27 members to impose sanctions on Israeli government ministers.
But Borrell's decision to float such a proposal indicates the level of anger among some European officials over the words and actions of some far-right Israeli ministers.
Even ministers from some countries that are strong allies of Israel, such as Germany and the Czech Republic, did not immediately shut down the sanctions discussion in comments to reporters on the sidelines of Thursday's meeting.
Ireland, one of the EU's most pro-Palestinian members, said it backed Borrell's suggestion.
"We will be supporting Josep Borrell's recommendation for sanctions in respect of settler organisations in the West Bank who are facilitating (the) expansion of settlements, and also to Israeli ministers," Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said.
But Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani dismissed the idea.
"We have to resolve the problems, convince the Israelis to make the choices that will lead to a ceasefire in Gaza," he said. "This is the real priority."
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Andrew Gray; Additional reporting by Maytaal Angel; Editing by David Gregorio)
Borrell says EU should consider sanctions on Israeli ministers over Gaza war remarks
Euronews
Thu, August 29, 2024
The EU's foreign policy chief has said the bloc should consider imposing sanctions on some government ministers in Israel over their remarks about the war in Gaza.
Josep Borrell said some members of the Israeli cabinet, who he didn't name, had released "hateful messages" and proposed things which "clearly go against international law".
"I think that the European Union has not to have taboos in order to use our toolbox in order to make humanitarian law respected. But it's not my decision. I only have the capacity of proposal. Member States will decide," he said to reporters in Brussels after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers
But the 27 EU member countries are divided over their approach to the war in Gaza and it’s unlikely that all would all agree on such a move.
There has already been pushback to the suggestion from Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, who called it "unrealistic".
"We must try to solve the problems by convincing Israel to make choices that lead to a ceasefire in Gaza, because this is the real priority. It is not with the recognition of theoretical Palestine, with sanctions on Israeli ministers, that the problem will be solved. We need more diplomacy, we also need strong messages," he said.
"But I believe that this is not the right way to convince Israel to conclude an agreement with the other parties in Cairo."
Polio vaccination campaign
Those comments come after the World Health Organization announced that Israel had agreed to limited pauses in fighting in Gaza to allow the health body to oversee a polio vaccination rollout for hundreds of thousands of children after a baby contracted the first confirmed case in 25 years in the Palestinian territory.
Described as "humanitarian pauses" that will last three days in different areas of the territory, the vaccination campaign will start on Sunday in central Gaza and will be run together with UNICEF, UNRWA and local partners.
Palestinians displaced by the Israeli offensive in Gaza walk past sewage flowing into the streets of Khan Younis, July 4, 2024 - Jehad Alshrafi/AP Photo
"I think this is a way forward. I'm not going to say this is the ideal way forward, but this is a workable way forward. Not doing anything would be really bad, we have to stop this transmission in Gaza and we have to avoid the transmission outside, outside Gaza,” said Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the Palestinian territories.
Peeperkorn said the health body aims to vaccinate 640,000 children under 10 and that the campaign has been coordinated with Israeli authorities.
"We know that with these type of polio outbreaks, the circulating vaccine derived polio virus type two that you will need to vaccinate at least 90% of children to stop the transmission. And that's where we are so focused on. So if we under vaccinate, you know, we are not stopping the transmission."
EU urged to rethink ties with Israel over Gaza and impose sanctions against some ministers
Lorne Cook
Thu, August 29, 2024
The Associated Press
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union must rethink its relations with Israel as the death toll mounts in Gaza and the West Bank and impose sanctions on some Israeli government ministers accused of fomenting racial hatred, Ireland and the bloc’s top diplomat said Thursday.
At a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Ireland’s foreign minister accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians as well as Hamas militants with the military campaign it launched almost 11 months ago.
“This is a war against Palestinians not just against Hamas. The level of civilian casualties and dead is unconscionable,” Micheal Martin told reporters. “It’s a war on the population. No point in trying to fudge this.”
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 40,000 people, according to local health officials, displaced 90% of the population and destroyed its main cities. Hamas has lost thousands of fighters and much of its militant infrastructure.
Violence has also surged in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack inside southern Israel ignited the war there. Israel launched a large-scale operation in the West Bank this week, in which Hamas said 10 of its fighters were killed in different locations.
Martin said a legal opinion issued by the International Court of Justice that Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank is unlawful obliges the EU to take action. The Palestinians have hailed it as “a watershed moment for Palestine, for justice and for international law.”
“It cannot be business as usual,” Martin told reporters. “It is very clear to us that international humanitarian law has been broken.”
Ties between the EU and Israel — which are major trading partners — are governed by a so-called Association Agreement. Ireland and Spain have been pressing their EU partners to examine whether Israel has broken the rules.
The EU is the world’s top provider of aid to the Palestinians but holds little leverage over Israel, notably because the 27 member countries are deeply divided in their approach.
Austria, Germany and Hungary are staunch backers of Israel, while Ireland and Spain are more vocal in their support for the Palestinians. Nonetheless, the bloc does have credibility as a European project founded on peace.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, with the backing of Ireland, urged the ministers to consider imposing sanctions on certain members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Cabinet over their remarks about the war in Gaza.
“Some Israeli ministers have been launching hateful messages, unacceptable hateful messages, against the Palestinians and proposing things that go clearly against international law and is an (incitement) to commit more crimes,” Borrell said.
Borrell did not name the ministers, but earlier this month he criticized Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for suggesting that the starvation of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million people “might be just and moral” until hostages captured in the Oct. 7 attack are returned home.
Borrell said there should be “no taboos” to prevent the EU from ensuring that international humanitarian law is respected.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock did not take a clear stand either way, saying only that things should be examined carefully on a case-by-case basis to assess “what are the allegations? Are these allegations enough to list to sanction?”
She underlined that any decision to impose sanctions would require unanimous support.
After the meeting, Borrell conceded that the move did not receive unanimous backing, but he said that he has launched the technical work required to impose sanctions, should the EU finally agree. “The ministers will decide, it’s up to them as always, but the process has been launched,” he told reporters.
Borrell also said he is preparing a high-level meeting on the war at the U.N. General Assembly next month, and that Arab countries and the United States have said they will take part. He said that Israel is welcome to attend.
Lorne Cook, The Associated Press
Lorne Cook
Thu, August 29, 2024
The Associated Press
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union must rethink its relations with Israel as the death toll mounts in Gaza and the West Bank and impose sanctions on some Israeli government ministers accused of fomenting racial hatred, Ireland and the bloc’s top diplomat said Thursday.
At a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Ireland’s foreign minister accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians as well as Hamas militants with the military campaign it launched almost 11 months ago.
“This is a war against Palestinians not just against Hamas. The level of civilian casualties and dead is unconscionable,” Micheal Martin told reporters. “It’s a war on the population. No point in trying to fudge this.”
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 40,000 people, according to local health officials, displaced 90% of the population and destroyed its main cities. Hamas has lost thousands of fighters and much of its militant infrastructure.
Violence has also surged in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack inside southern Israel ignited the war there. Israel launched a large-scale operation in the West Bank this week, in which Hamas said 10 of its fighters were killed in different locations.
Martin said a legal opinion issued by the International Court of Justice that Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank is unlawful obliges the EU to take action. The Palestinians have hailed it as “a watershed moment for Palestine, for justice and for international law.”
“It cannot be business as usual,” Martin told reporters. “It is very clear to us that international humanitarian law has been broken.”
Ties between the EU and Israel — which are major trading partners — are governed by a so-called Association Agreement. Ireland and Spain have been pressing their EU partners to examine whether Israel has broken the rules.
The EU is the world’s top provider of aid to the Palestinians but holds little leverage over Israel, notably because the 27 member countries are deeply divided in their approach.
Austria, Germany and Hungary are staunch backers of Israel, while Ireland and Spain are more vocal in their support for the Palestinians. Nonetheless, the bloc does have credibility as a European project founded on peace.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, with the backing of Ireland, urged the ministers to consider imposing sanctions on certain members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Cabinet over their remarks about the war in Gaza.
“Some Israeli ministers have been launching hateful messages, unacceptable hateful messages, against the Palestinians and proposing things that go clearly against international law and is an (incitement) to commit more crimes,” Borrell said.
Borrell did not name the ministers, but earlier this month he criticized Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for suggesting that the starvation of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million people “might be just and moral” until hostages captured in the Oct. 7 attack are returned home.
Borrell said there should be “no taboos” to prevent the EU from ensuring that international humanitarian law is respected.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock did not take a clear stand either way, saying only that things should be examined carefully on a case-by-case basis to assess “what are the allegations? Are these allegations enough to list to sanction?”
She underlined that any decision to impose sanctions would require unanimous support.
After the meeting, Borrell conceded that the move did not receive unanimous backing, but he said that he has launched the technical work required to impose sanctions, should the EU finally agree. “The ministers will decide, it’s up to them as always, but the process has been launched,” he told reporters.
Borrell also said he is preparing a high-level meeting on the war at the U.N. General Assembly next month, and that Arab countries and the United States have said they will take part. He said that Israel is welcome to attend.
Lorne Cook, The Associated Press
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