Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

EU fails to reach agreement on sanctioning Israel's Ben Gvir despite member state pressure

Israeli far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Israeli far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir. Copyright  Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Copyright Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
By Rebecca Rommen
Published on Updated
Share Comments Add Euronews on Google
Share Close Button

The bloc's foreign policy chief confirmed that discussions on restricting trade with illegal West Bank settlements will also continue ahead of July's ministerial meeting.

The European Union has been unable to reach unanimous agreement on imposing sanctions against Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the bloc's top diplomat confirmed on Monday, even as a growing number of member states push for punitive measures against the far-right politician.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, made the announcement following a gathering of the bloc's 27 foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

"Many member states have also proposed to sanction Minister Ben Gvir, but no consensus on that was reached today," she said.

EU sanctions require the unanimous backing of all member states, and a core of staunch Israeli allies within the bloc effectively blocked the move from going forward.

Calls to place Ben Gvir on an EU blacklist intensified last month after he posted a video appearing to mock pro-Palestinian activists who had been detained by Israeli forces aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. France responded by banning Ben Gvir from French territory and urged EU partners to follow suit with bloc-wide measures.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share Comments Add Euronews on Google

Read more

Israel says all Gaza flotilla activists have been deported amid global outrage over their treatment

EU countries urge sanctions on Israeli minister for video of Gaza flotilla activists

EU fails to reach agreement on sanctioning Israel's Ben Gvir despite member state pressure