Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has called on the European Union to impose sanctions against Israel due to its escalating tensions in the Middle East, Anadolu Agency reported, citing local media.
Her comments were made on Monday following her participation in the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg, where discussions were held on the current developments in the Middle East and Ukraine, according to Finland’s Yle news agency.
Valtonen stated that discussions on imposing sanctions on Israel are ongoing within the EU and that such a decision would require the approval from all member states.
“Opinions are divided here, but the message is already quite strong that we must take clear action against Israel. Especially if the escalation continues from here and does not end,” Yle quoted Valtonen as saying.
The minister urged the EU to consider implementing additional sanctions on Israel and highlighted the possibility of extending the sanctions already imposed on Israeli settlers who seized Palestinian lands earlier this year, to include the country’s political decision-makers.
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