Germany says EU will discuss possible sanctions on radical Israeli settlers
Berlin welcomes US visa ban on settlers who have committed violence in West Bank, says EU foreign ministers to discuss similar measures next week
BERLIN
Germany on Wednesday said that the EU member states will discuss possible sanctions on radical Israeli settlers.
The German Foreign Ministry spokesman told a news conference in Berlin that the issue will be discussed during an EU foreign ministers meeting next week.
“We welcome that the US has adopted a clear stance, as just as we are, and now will take concrete measures in the form of entry restrictions,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said.
“It is important to advance this debate at the European level as well. We are doing this, and we will be actively involved in these discussions during the EU Foreign Affairs Council next Monday,” he added.
On Tuesday, the US State Department announced that it was preparing to impose visa bans against radical Israeli settlers who have committed violence in the occupied West Bank.
Fischer expressed concern over the increase in violence and attacks by radical settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories, and said this was exacerbating the already-tense security situation.
"We condemn the violence perpetrated by settlers on Palestinian communities. This has recently reached such frightening proportions that many families have left their homes out of fear and there have been several deaths. This is completely unacceptable," he said.
"We continue to call on Israel to protect Palestinians from the activities of extremist settlers, and to hold those responsible accountable. Palestinian families must be able to live in their traditional homes, and on their land, without fear," he said.
Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have spiked since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian sources. Extremists among the settlers have committed over 300 attacks, killing at least nine Palestinians in the past two months.
The methods employed by extremist settlers varied from firing live ammunition to beatings, stoning vehicles, and attacking homes, families, and farmers.
