Rome: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Wednesday called for European-level measures to curb Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, according to daily Il Sole 24 Ore. Tajani stressed the need for measures at the European level "to target the activities and sources of funding of violent settlers in a focused and effective manner."
According to Anadolu Agency, Tajani highlighted the limitations of national measures, stating that they rest on weak legal foundations, with the risk of having limited impact and of being easily circumvented. He pointed out that only seven EU countries have announced measures similar to those announced by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. Tajani made these remarks while addressing the Chamber of Deputies, emphasizing that the expansion of illegal settlements is "unacceptable," and that no one can tolerate occupier violence.
He further questioned the tools necessary to create a real impact on such behavior, asserting that the only effective legal and political framework is that of the European Union. Tajani warned that only a unified European response can ensure effective and consistent measures.
Tajani also noted that Italy had already supported three rounds of sanctions targeting Israeli occupiers and organizations supporting their activities. He mentioned that Italy is among those backing a fourth package currently under discussion. Italy will continue to engage with other EU partners to identify further measures at forthcoming meetings, including on the issue of illegal settlements and related economic activities.
"Our aim is to put an end to settler violence, halt the expansion of settlements and preserve the only political prospect for a lasting peace: two states that can live side by side in peace and security," Tajani stated.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also announced on Tuesday that the bloc is discussing additional sanctions against Israeli occupiers amid increasing illegal settlement expansion, forced displacement, and record levels of occupier violence in the occupied West Bank. Since 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with the international community considering Israeli settlements built on occupied land illegal under international law, a position rejected by Tel Aviv. Approximately 750,000 occupiers live in 156 illegal settlements and 360 settlement outposts across the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, carrying out attacks aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians.