EU could soon launch new sanctions against Israel settlers, says France FM

France’s Foreign Minister has announced that the European Union could soon launch a new round of sanctions against illegal Israeli settlers, amid their continued and increasing violence in Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Speaking at the Paris Peace Forum yesterday, French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, warned of the potential issuing and implementation of further sanctions by the EU against Israeli settlers, highlighting France’s own current sanctions against 28 violent settlers.

Emphasising the necessity for international law and justice to prevail for the security of both Israelis and Palestinians, Barrot reiterated Paris’s stance that “we are deeply attached to the security of Israel”.

The Foreign Minister’s comments come amid a recent diplomatic row between Paris and Tel Aviv, after Israeli security forces last week entered French-administered property in Jerusalem and arrested two French security officers. It led to Foreign Minister Barrot’s subsequent cancelling of his visit to the site.

Recalling that incident in his address yesterday, the diplomat stated that it was something that ‘must never happen again’.

During his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, he also met with Palestinian Authority (PA) President, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah for discussions in which he reiterated France’s apparent support for the two-state solution and remarked that the ongoing illegal settlement activities threaten a durable peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

READ: France Foreign Ministry summons Israel ambassador in wake of arrest of Jerusalem staffers