Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said he would propose imposing sanctions on "extremist" Israeli settlers in the West Bank, Politico reported.
"We will work to impose sanctions against the extremist settlers in the West Bank. I will propose to the member states in this regard," Borel announced at a press conference after the meeting of EU foreign ministers.
He also said he opposes both the forced displacement of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip and Israel's occupation of the enclave, which is expanding its ground offensive into southern Gaza, forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee.
The EU's foreign policy chief added that he was "alarmed" by the Israeli government's approval of a further 1,700 residential buildings in East Jerusalem to expand the settlements. "The EU considers the plan to be illegal under international law," he said.
Earlier this month, the US informed Israel that Washington would impose a visa ban on Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank.
Borrell called for a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis. "We believe that this is the best if not the only, solution that can bring security and peace to both Israel and Palestine," he said.
"Israel's security cannot be achieved by military means alone. It requires a political settlement of the conflict." /BGNES
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