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The European Union was expected Monday to approve new sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians, the bloc’s top diplomat said, as a change of government in Hungary appears to have removed a key obstacle.
“I expect political agreement on the sanctions on violent settlers; hopefully, we will get there,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.
The measures, proposed in response to rising violence and settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, had been blocked for months by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
However, the ouster of the nationalist leader and close Israeli ally by rival Peter Magyar appears to have paved the way for the veto to be lifted.
EU officials said seven settlers or settler-linked organizations were expected to be blacklisted.
The bloc is also expected to impose sanctions on representatives of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The occupied West Bank has experienced near-daily violence since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, involving both Israeli troops and settlers.
Palestinian officials and the United Nations have also reported a surge in deadly attacks by Israeli settlers since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28.
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Despite progress on sanctions targeting settlers, EU member states remain divided over broader measures against Israel.
There is currently no consensus within the bloc on steps such as restricting trade ties with Israel.
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