Q: France has stated repeatedly that it’s getting ready to take nationwide measures in opposition to some extremist Israeli settlers. What’s delaying this initiative?
A: France goes to take administrative measures to ban extremist Israeli settlers who’ve been or are responsible of violence in opposition to Palestinian civilians within the West Financial institution from getting into the nation. Taking these measures at nationwide stage requires a previous effort to establish the people probably involved and collect data to offer causes for the measures in legislation.
France can also be in favor of adopting sanctions at European stage in opposition to these violent settlers. The matter was raised by the Minister for Europe and Overseas Affairs on the newest Overseas Affairs Council, in Brussels in December. On this respect, we’re working with our European companions to establish people to whom these sanctions might apply. If needed, such sanctions needs to be the topic of a unanimous settlement by the 27 Member States.
France reaffirms its agency condemnation of the violence perpetrated by teams of settlers in opposition to Palestinians within the West Financial institution. This violence should cease. It’s the Israeli authorities’ accountability to make sure this and prosecute the perpetrators.
This condemnation is a part of our agency condemnation of settlement exercise usually. Our place could be very clear: settlement exercise is prohibited beneath worldwide legislation. On this respect, we’re asking the Israeli authorities to reverse the current shameful selections rushing up settlement exercise within the Palestinian Territories, such because the one geared toward authorizing the development of 1,800 new housing items in settlements in East Jerusalem, introduced on 6 December 2023. They’re diminishing the prospect of making a viable Palestinian State, which is the one resolution attainable for Israelis and Palestinians to dwell in peace and safety on their lands. The conflict in Gaza should under no circumstances function an excuse for imposing unilateral measures on the bottom that undermine the prospects of a two-State resolution, the one one that may assure a simply and lasting peace.
