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SvennoJ on 29 August 2024
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EU’s Borrell raises possible sanctions against Israeli ministers

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has raised the prospect of levying sanctions against Israeli ministers who call for international law violations.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Borrell said he has begun the process of asking EU member states “if they consider (it) appropriate to include in our list of sanctions some Israeli ministers (who) have been launching unacceptable hate messages against the Palestinians, and proposing things that clearly go against international law”.

Borrell’s remarks come after Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter said she would fully back sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who have called to expel Palestinians from Gaza and even re-settle the enclave.

"begun the process of asking whether member states could consider it appropriate" WTF kinda soft language is that. The ICJ has already ruled the occupation of the West Bank illegal, that Israel is effectively an apartheid state. Following that it's the duty of UN member states to come to action.

Borrell should be demanding sanctions, not could you maybe begin to consider it appropriate. Grow some balls.


‘It cannot be business as usual’

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Micheal Martin has spoken to reporters in Brussels.

“I am very conscious of the conclusions of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion published last month which places obligations on states and international organisations like the EU to examine its relations with Israel in the context of its illegal occupation of the West Bank and of Gaza,” he said.

He referred to the Association Agreement, which regulates ties between the EU and Israel. Ireland and Spain have been pressing their EU partners to examine whether Israel has broken the rules.

“It’s clear to us that international humanitarian law has been broken,” Martin said.

In a landmark ruling in July, the ICJ said Israel’s occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful and should come to an end “as rapidly as possible”.


Former UK Labour Party leader calls for end to arms sales to Israel

British member of parliament and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called for an end to arms sales to Israel amid the continuing attacks across the occupied West Bank.

“Israel knows it can commit war crimes with impunity. That is why it has launched its largest assault on the West Bank since 2002,” Corbyn said on X. “We are witnessing the total erasure of Palestine – and our government is shamefully complicit. End all arms sales to Israel, now,” he added.


‘Police state’: Pro-Palestinian group condemns UK government moves

The UK-based Palestine Action group of activists has criticised the reported arrest of a member for online posts, as well as a raid on the address of one of 10 previously arrested members, and the issuing of charges against another for supporting a “terrorist” organisation.

“This is what you call a police state – one which is trying desperately to protect the interests of a foreign genocidal entity,” the group said in a post on social media.

In protest at the war on Gaza, the group has been focusing on disrupting weapons manufacturers in the UK that supply arms to Israel.