The Embassy of Palestine in Cyprus has welcomed the European Union’s unanimous decision to adopt a new package of sanctions against Israeli settler organisations and individuals involved in supporting illegal settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, as well as those accused of backing escalating settler violence against Palestinians.
In a statement, the embassy described the decision as “an important step towards strengthening accountability mechanisms and enforcing international law against the colonial settlement system and settler terrorism”.
It added that such violence “continues daily to commit crimes, thefts and attacks against Palestinian citizens, their property, their land and their holy sites”.
The embassy also welcomed “European positions reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem”.
Settlers should be deterred
However, it argued that the measures would remain insufficient unless accompanied by “substantive and deterrent actions” aimed at ending settlement expansion.
Among the measures proposed were the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, the activation of the principle of universal jurisdiction, a boycott of settlement products and concrete steps to ensure accountability for Israel and all parties involved in supporting and protecting the settlement system.
CNA
