- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stresses in his phone call with his Israeli counterpart ‘on the need for a more decisive approach to combat settler violence'
BERLIN
Germany on Monday reaffirmed support for EU sanctions against violent Israeli settlers amid the ongoing pogroms on Palestinians in the West Bank.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Giese told journalists in Berlin that his country would “support” EU sanctions against violent Israeli settlers but also made it clear that the decision would be “made in Brussels.”
He pointed out that there was one EU member state, alluding to Hungary, that was “blocking” such sanctions.
Giese stressed again that it is “clearly the wish of the federal government” to proceed with such sanctions.
In other related news, Giese defended German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert, who was lambasted by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar for criticizing the anti-settler violence in the West Bank.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed in his phone call with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday evening “on the need for a more decisive approach to combat settler violence,” said Giese.
The spokesperson reiterated his ministry’s “full” support for Seibert on this issue.
Meanwhile, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius voiced his country’s “concern” over the situation in the West Bank and “called on the parties to exercise restraint.”
Since the start of the Gaza war on Oct. 8, 2023, attacks by Israeli forces and illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank have killed 1,133 Palestinians, injured about 11,700 others, and led to the arrest of roughly 22,000 people.
In February alone, illegal settlers carried out 511 attacks across the West Bank, killing seven Palestinians by gunfire, according to official Palestinian figures.
Earlier, in a landmark opinion in July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.