EU sanctions Israeli settlers as Germany's Greens demand broader crackdown
The EU introduced new sanctions on Monday against three settlers and four settler groups in Israel. Meanwhile, Germany’s Green Party pushed for broader measures, targeting high-profile ministers and military figures. Their calls came amid growing concerns over violence and impunity in the West Bank. The European Union’s latest sanctions focused on individuals and organisations linked to settler activity. However, a separate proposal to suspend the EU’s association agreement with Israel failed to secure enough backing.
Germany’s Green Party responded by urging stricter action. Luise Amtsberg, the party’s foreign policy spokesperson, argued that existing penalties on settler groups were not enough. She specifically called for personal sanctions against ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, as well as Major General Avi Bluth. Helge Limburg, the Greens’ legal policy spokesperson, highlighted Bluth’s admission of war crimes in the West Bank. Limburg insisted that such statements should trigger consequences. The party now wants the German government to enforce these additional measures.
The EU’s new sanctions mark a step in addressing settler-related violence. But the Green Party’s demands for wider penalties—including against senior officials—remain unresolved. The debate over further action is likely to continue as tensions persist in the region.
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