EU's Borrell to call for sanctions on Israeli ministers over inflammatory statements
The European Union’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell will call for sanctions on two Israeli ministers, whose inflammatory remarks about Al-Aqsa Mosque and Gaza ceasefire sparked outrage across the world.
Borrell will make the case for sanctions against Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich at a meeting of the bloc’s 27 foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday, the Guardian reported.
EU officials expect Hungary and the Czech Republic – two allies of Benjamin Netanyahu– to veto the plan, it said.
According to the British daily newspaper, Borrell’s proposal is worth pursuing in part as an attempt to repair the bloc’s battered international credibility on the Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.
“The aim is to really call it out [Israeli ministers’ behavior] and to show the EU tries to keep its credibility and that we don’t have double standards,” it quoted EU sources as saying.
Ben-Gvir, Israel’s extremist national security minister, paid a provocative visit to al-Aqsa mosque in July 18, saying that he went there “to pray” for the return of Israeli detainees held by Hamas in Gaza “but without a reckless deal, without surrendering.”
His statements sparked outrage in many Muslim countries since they were in violation of the status quo that permits only Muslims to pray, while others can only visit.
The minister, who is seeking to disrupt Gaza ceasefire talks, has also called repeatedly for the cutting off aid and fuel supply to the besieged enclave.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, also caused outrage earlier this month when he said it might be “justified and moral” to starve two million people in Gaza in order to free the remaining Israeli detainees.
Borrell said at the time previously said that Smotrich’s sinister statements are “an incitement to war crimes.”
The EU top diplomat had also proposed sanctions against Israeli settlers and organizations implicated in human rights abuses and violent attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds.
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