Jerusalem.- The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Gideon Saar, asked Germany on Tuesday to take a leading role in curbing potential sanctions promoted by the European Union against Israel and its settlement policy in the West Bank (illegal under international law).
During an appearance in Jerusalem alongside his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, Saar stated that “some European governments are working to impose an excessively anti-Israel agenda on the entire European Union” and maintained that sanctions should not be used to “force Israel to change its policies” on what he described as “fundamental issues” for its existence.
Read more: Israel highlights its “deep bond” with the US on the occasion of its independence anniversary
The head of Israeli diplomacy assured that, when there are differences between allies, they must be resolved “through dialogue”.
“We hope that Germany, our friend, will play a leading role in opposing these unilateral initiatives and in preserving a balanced and constructive European policy towards Israel,” he declared.
More Read
In response, Wadephul reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to Israel’s security, which he described as part of the “core” of their bilateral relationship, but added that the expansion of settlements threatens the viability of a two-state solution.
“A de facto annexation of parts of the West Bank cannot be accepted by the international community, nor could it be legally supported by Germany,” he stated.
At the end of May, the Council of the European Union (EU) approved sanctions against four organizations that promote the creation of settlements in Palestinian territories through violent means, and against three of their leaders: the settler Daniella Weiss, director of the Nachala Settlement Movement; the settler Meir Deutsch, director of Regavim; and the settler Avichai Suissa, head of Hashomer Yosh, an organization that promotes Israeli livestock farms in the West Bank.
More Read
In addition, several Member States -including Spain, France and Sweden- keep other punitive measures on the table, such as restricting trade in products from illegal settlements.
Wadephul also asked Israel to release the corresponding tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, considering that weakening it could create a vacuum exploited by more radical groups.
