Foto:Ben-Gvir/Wikipedia
On August 29, 2024, the European Union found itself on the threshold of an important decision: whether to introduce sanctions against two Israeli government ministers known for their hardline views on the Palestinian issue. Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are in the spotlight for their rhetoric and actions, which the EU believes incite violence against Palestinians, Israel’s Channel 7 reports.
At the center of this diplomatic battle is Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign minister, who is ending his five-year term. Today, August 29, he intends to propose a resolution that provides for the introduction of sanctions against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. This step would be a significant signal of the EU’s disagreement with Israel’s policy in the context of the conflict with Palestine.
However, as analysts note, the chance of success of this decision looks doubtful. Despite Borrell’s determination, the attempt to impose sanctions is expected to be blocked by countries considered close allies of Israel, including the Czech Republic and Hungary. This once again emphasizes the complexity and political ambiguity of the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the international arena.
Borrell, who has often been critical of Israel, especially since the start of the final phase of the war, has repeatedly accused Israeli ministers of inciting violence. He directly stated that the actions of Ben-Gvir, who called for an end to humanitarian aid and fuel supplies to Gaza, as well as Smotrych’s rhetoric, could be considered war crimes.
“The European Union cannot stand aside when international laws are violated,” Borrell said. “We must act decisively, even if that means imposing sanctions on government officials who commit war crimes.”
However, his efforts may be nullified if the national interests of individual EU member states stand in the way of a unanimous decision.
The end of Borrell’s term marks not only the end of his active diplomatic activities, but also a potential change in the EU’s course towards the Middle East. He will be replaced by the former prime minister of Estonia, Kaia Kallas, whose approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may turn out to be more moderate or, on the contrary, tougher.
Will Borrell manage to leave a mark in the history of European diplomacy and influence the situation in the Middle East with his latest diplomatic move? This question remains open, but one thing is clear: the struggle for human rights and international law continues to be one of the most pressing topics in world politics.
