“I expect a political agreement on the sanctions of violent settlers,” Kallas said before the meeting. “I really hope that we have a political agreement on sanctions against violent settlers that have been on the table for a long time.”
“There are recommendations made by member countries,” he added. “Let’s see if member states are ready to move there.”
Kallas admitted that broad measures against Israel still lack support within the bloc.
“At the moment, when we tried this on Friday with the ambassadors, it seems that we don’t have enough of a majority to pass these measures,” he said, referring to the French-Swedish proposal aimed at West Bank trade and settlements. “But really, what more can we do?”
Several ministers who arrived in Brussels echoed Kallas’ frustration at the EU’s inability to move forward quickly.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel said that “there is no measure that we can take, because there are always countries that hesitate.” He added: “Some people tell us that history means we have an eternal debt to Israel, but that does not excuse this.”
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said she was also looking to “authorize violent settlers in the West Bank,” saying that developments “in Gaza and the West Bank have been very worrying in recent months.”
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen pushed for more drastic measures. “We are working on a complete ban on goods from illegal settlements,” he said, adding that ministers will now try “where the majority can be” for further measures, including taxes.
