TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Foreign Ministers of the European Union have agreed on sanctions against illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank on Monday, May 11, 2026, local time. This is related to the increasing violence against residents in the West Bank, Palestine.
Through the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in an article on X platform, stated that the EU Foreign Ministers have agreed to impose sanctions against the occupation of Israel, as reported by Xinhua. "The decision comes amid rising settler violence and settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank," said Kallas. He stressed, "It was high time we move from deadlock to delivery."
The decision was made as the EU foreign ministers gathered in Brussels for the Foreign Affairs Council meeting.
Previously, according to a report by Al Jazeera, the consensus had been delayed for months because former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had used his veto in the European Council. However, the election of the new PM Peter Magyar on Saturday led to Hungary lifting its rejection of the sanctions that would be imposed on the Zionist Regime.
Responses of the EU Foreign Ministers Regarding Israeli Sanctions
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot appreciated the EU's change of course in imposing sanctions on Israel. "It's done! The European Union is sanctioning today the main Israeli organizations guilty of supporting the extremist and violent colonization of the West Bank, as well as their leaders," wrote Barrot on social media X.
"These most serious and intolerable acts must cease without delay," wrote Barrot on X, citing from Al Jazeera.
According to an Anadolu report, a similar sentiment was also expressed by the Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot in his article on X, stating that the policy was adopted after months of deadlock among EU member states. Prevot claimed that Hungary's change of position had created concrete steps toward achieving consensus. "Belgium had long pushed for the measures, adding that they send a clear message that extremism and violence carry consequences," said Prevot.
In addition to the Foreign Ministers of France and Belgium, other European regional organization members who approved the progressive step included Slovenia, Ireland, and Spain. "The situation in Gaza is dramatic, and I regret that there is no support in the (EU) for freezing the association agreement with Israel. The two-state solution is becoming increasingly difficult," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon in her post on X, last Monday.
A similar standpoint was also expressed by Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin, who said that the European Union must not remain passive in addressing the occupation in Palestine. This could perpetuate violence and lead to violations of international law. "Extremist violence and persistent breaches of international law cannot go unanswered ... We must also continue discussions on further measures to protect the viability of the two-State solution," wrote Martin on X in his account, quoting from Anadolu.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares welcomed the move. Albares emphasized that the conditions in Gaza and the West Bank are unacceptable.
He said the cooperation agreement between the EU and Israel should be suspended as long as the Israeli authorities' oppression of Palestine continues. "The Association Agreement must be suspended while it continues like this. Let us not allow the violation of international law and the obstruction of the two-state solution," said the Spanish Foreign Minister on X.
Meanwhile, the Left Group in the European Parliament criticized the scope of the sanctions, calling them inadequate. "Although welcome, the sanctions are a pitiful fraction of what is required to rein in Israel's constant breaches of international law - suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement now," the group said on X.
Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Palestine, Lynn Boylan, said that Israel would continue to act without fear of punishment because it believes the European Union will not take action. "Because it believes the EU will do nothing," said Boylan.
The occupied West Bank has experienced an increase in violence since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023, including killings, arrests, house demolitions, and settlement expansion, according to Palestinian officials.
At least 1,155 Palestinians have been killed, around 11,750 injured, and nearly 22,000 people have been arrested in the occupied West Bank since then, according to official Palestinian data.
The Palestinian authorities have stated that the annexed West Bank has experienced an increase in violence since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, including killings, arrests, destruction of civilian settlements, and territorial annexation.
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