EU sanctions extremist Israeli settlers and entities involved in violence against Palestinians

The European Union has designated five extremist Israeli settlers and three settler outposts ‘responsible for serious and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank.’

The fresh action, under the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, targets Israeli settlers Moshe Sharvit, Zvi Bar Yosef, Baruch Marzel, Ben-Zion Gopstein and Isaschar Manne, the EU Council said in a notice, 15 July.

The designated outposts were identified as Moshe’s Farm, from where the Council said Sharvit ‘engaged in settler violence and threats towards Palestinian residents’ and Zvi’s farm, from where Yosef ‘repeatedly attacked and committed acts of violence against Palestinians.’

The designations ‘also include Tzav 9, an Israeli group of violent activists founded in January 2024, regularly blocking humanitarian aid trucks delivering food, water and fuel to Gaza,’ the Council said.

It said Marzel was designated for ‘openly calling for an ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians, Gopstein for being a ‘founder and leader of the extremist organisation Lehava,’ and Manne as ‘founder of the unauthorised Manne Farm outpost.’

Those listed are subject to an asset freeze, are prohibited from having funds made available to them and are subject to a travel ban in the EU.

Last week, the US State Department also announced new sanctions on three Israeli settlers and four affiliated settler outposts, accusing them of involvement ‘in violence or threats of violence targeting civilians, seizure or dispossession of property by private actors, or actions that threaten the peace, stability and security of the West Bank.’

Washington has also imposed sanctions on Lehava and Tzav 9.

https://r.newsletter.consilium.europa.eu/mk/mr/sh/1t6AVsd2XFnIGLoTIlUAkIYWBJBc4k/6SQCRhuvcOF1