EU threatens Israeli heads of state with personal restrictions

(MENAFN) EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has strongly condemned a recent violent attack by Israeli settlers on a Palestinian village in the West Bank and threatened possible sanctions against Israeli leaders and supporters of the settlers. In the incident in the town of Jit, masked settlers stormed the village, opened fire, used tear gas against residents and set fire to buildings and vehicles.

Reports on Thursday indicate that the violence resulted in significant damage and casualties. Nasser Sedda, the chairman of Jit’s town council, told CNN that the attackers were armed and aggressive and caused chaos and destruction. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attack and noted that the settlers used Molotov cocktails and stones before Israeli security forces intervened to disperse them.

In response to the escalating violence, Borrell condemned the settlers’ actions on social media, stressing that they are increasingly acting with impunity in the West Bank. He criticized the ongoing violence as a serious threat to any prospects for peace in the region and called on the Israeli government to immediately stop such actions.

Borrell expressed his intention to propose European Union sanctions against those who enable or support violent settler activities, including some members of the Israeli government. The move reflects growing international concern about the deteriorating situation in the West Bank and the apparent failure of the Israeli authorities to effectively contain settler violence.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that a 23-year-old Palestinian was killed in the attack and several others were injured by stone throwing and smoke inhalation. Palestinian health officials confirmed that the violence had a serious impact on the local population and that numerous people required medical attention.

In response to the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that those responsible for the violence would be pursued and held accountable. He announced that the perpetrators would face “the utmost severity.”

The European Union’s threat of sanctions underscores the international community’s growing frustration with the situation and underscores the pressure on Israel to stop the violence and support efforts to find a peaceful solution.

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