The European Union has expressed deep concern over the escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank, reiterating its condemnation of "violent settler activities" against Palestinians.
اضافة اعلان
European Commission spokesperson for foreign affairs Anouar El Anouni told reporters at his daily press briefing on Tuesday evening that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas had described the violent settler activities witnessed in the West Bank as "a matter of grave concern."
"Together with the member states, we have condemned these acts," El Anouni said.
He noted that Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, stressing that the European Union has repeatedly called on Israel to halt all "settlement activities and the expansion of settlements," according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
The spokesperson said the EU had taken measures against Israelis involved in acts of violence against Palestinians.
"As the European Union, we have adopted three packages of sanctions against extremist settlers and organizations linked to them under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime," he said.
The sanctions target 12 individuals and nine organizations, he added, noting that additional sanctions proposals are currently under discussion by the Council of the European Union.
El Anouni said no decision had yet been reached by the EU Council on the matter, adding that "the decision on the next steps rests with the member states."
