Czech government backs down, only the Orbán government vetoes EU sanctions against Israel

The possibility of a Hungarian veto has come up again. Violence in the predominantly Palestinian West Bank has sharply escalated since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in October. The European Union is now preparing a measure similar to the recent one sanctioned by the US Government, which targeted Jewish settlers who aggressively evicted Palestinians in the West Bank.

The West Bank, primarily inhabited by Palestinians, faces an influx of Israeli settlers in growing numbers. Among them are extremists resorting to threats, beatings and vandalism to coerce local Palestinian residents into vacating their homes, enabling the expansion of Israeli settlements. According to reports from the Independent, President Biden has granted authorisation for the United States Treasury Department to impose sanctions on Israeli citizens involved in forcibly displacing Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank or other regions, regardless of official support. National Security spokesman John Kirby later clarified that Israeli political leaders are currently not targeted for sanctions, and emphasised that the sanctions were implemented in coordination with the Israeli government. Following the decision, President Biden addressed Congress, emphasising that the situation in the West Bank, marked by what he described as “a significant escalation of violence by extremist settlers,” constitutes a national security emergency.

The EU’s reaction

Despite the majority of European Union countries supporting sanctions against Israeli settlers similar to those imposed by the US, including Spain, Germany, France, Ireland and Belgium, the sanctions have yet to be implemented. The delay in implementing the sanction was due to the Hungarian government vetoing it. The conflict between Hamas and Israel has caused division within the European Union, as highlighted by an EU Diplomat who stated:

“It’s a disgrace, Europe is nowhere in this discussion. [European Commission President Ursula] von der Leyen is burned. [The EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Josep] Borrel is not taken seriously inside or outside the EU.”

The EU has already sanctioned the Palestinian militant group Hamas, targeting their financial streams and several individuals. While a proposal for sanctions against Israeli settlers was made in December, member countries informally lean towards agreeing on Hamas sanctions first before addressing sanctions against extremist settlers. Following the announcement of the veto, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed the Hungarian Government’s opposition to the measure. He expressed his belief that it would only exacerbate tensions in the Middle East. Read details HERE: Hungary against sanctioning Israel

Czech Government Backtracks

Yesterday, news broke that the Czech Government intended to join the Hungarian Government in vetoing the proposed sanctions. However, today, the Czech Government reversed its decision and is no longer opposing the European Union’s sanctions against aggressive Israeli settlers according to Politico. The Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Lipavsky, provided insight into this change of stance, stating:

“Terrorism is not on the same level as the actions of the settlers, the two should not be linked.”

After the Czech Government withdrew its support for the veto, the Hungarian Government appears to remain steadfast in its opposition to the sanctions.