European Union foreign ministers are set to debate potential new measures aimed at restricting trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The discussion, scheduled for Monday, will be informed by a confidential European Commission paper outlining three possible courses of action.
Diplomats and officials indicate that the European Commission's paper proposes options ranging from an import licensing system to prohibitive tariffs or a complete ban on trade with settlements. This debate comes amid growing pressure from member governments to address the issue, fueled by escalating settler violence and increasing settlement expansion under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration.
The EU has historically faced challenges in formulating unified Middle East policy due to significant divisions among its 27 member states regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, recent actions, such as the EU's imposition of sanctions in May on entities and individuals for human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, suggest a hardening stance.
The International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion, which declared Israel's occupation and settlements in the West Bank illegal and urged states to prevent trade or investment that supports the situation, provides further context for the impending discussion. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has previously criticized efforts by some European governments to implement this opinion.
A senior EU diplomat, speaking anonymously, stated that Monday's meeting will serve to gauge member states' positions on the proposed options. It is not anticipated that a formal decision will be reached during this session. Divisions among member states also extend to the procedural requirements for enacting such measures, with disagreements existing over whether a qualified majority or unanimous support would be necessary for a trade ban.
