Europe debates framework to harden position on Israel (opens original article in a new tab)

European foreign ministers met to address sanctions against Israeli far-right ministers and trade restrictions on West Bank settlements, facing challenges in achieving consensus.

• European foreign ministers discussed hardening the bloc's position on Israeli settlements and far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
• Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka blocked sanctions against Ben-Gvir, citing concerns over his popularity in Israeli elections
• France and Sweden pushed for EU-wide trade restrictions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank
• Austria's Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger condemned Ben-Gvir's treatment of European flotilla activists