European foreign leaders have called for sanctions against Iran and Israeli West Bank settlers

European foreign leaders have called for sanctions against Iran and Israeli West Bank settlers

European foreign leaders called for sanctions on Iran and Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Monday, ahead of a meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council.

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said ministers would discuss sanctions on Iran, explaining he hoped “they will all agree” to a “great sanctions package.”

The US has already widened sanctions on Iran after it launched more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel in retaliation for a suspected deadly Israeli airstrike on its consulate in Damascus.

Borrell said sanctions against “violent settlers” in the West Bank should also be considered.

Violence by Israeli settlers and soldiers in the West Bank has increased during Israel’s war on Gaza, prompting more sanctions by the US and the EU.

Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib said the ministers would look at new sanctions against Iran and sanctions against West Bank settlers should be considered “so as not to experience a double standard.”

“I think it is not enough to sanction the violent settlers, we also need to sanction those who arm and defend the violent settlers,” he said. “It is impossible to let the Palestinians be displaced, driven out of their homes without the possibility to defend themselves.”
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said the meeting provided “an opportunity to show our support for Israel, because of Iran’s attacks on Israel, which we condemn.”

“The important thing now is to make sure that the proliferation of drones produced in Iran can be prevented,” Billstrom said, adding that Iranian proxies “must be included in” the sanctions.