Italy Signals Desire to Sanction Israeli Ministers

(MENAFN) Italy expressed readiness on Wednesday “to discuss sanctions against extremist Israeli ministers” during a gathering of European commissioners, as reported by a news agency.

The Italian government also reaffirmed its backing for a two-state resolution and the imposition of penalties against aggressive settlers.

On the same day, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas revealed plans to scale down commercial relations with Israel and place sanctions on senior officials over alleged human rights violations in the Gaza Strip.

This marks a significant change in the European Union’s stance toward Tel Aviv.

Maros Sefcovic, the European commissioner for trade and economic security, explained that the initiative focuses on crucial elements of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, including the free circulation of goods, services, public procurement, competition, and intellectual property rights.

"In practice, this means that imports from Israel to the EU will lose the preferential access to the EU market, and that these goods will be charged duties at the level applied to any other third countries with whom the EU has no free trade agreement," he declared during a press briefing in Brussels.

Additionally, the European Commission disclosed sanctions targeting the Palestinian resistance faction Hamas, radical Cabinet ministers within the Israeli administration, and violent settlers.

For these measures to take effect, the European Council must give unanimous approval.

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