German vice chancellor urges EU to consider sanctions against Ben-Gvir

German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has called on the European Union to contemplate imposing sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Klingbeil made these remarks on Tuesday during an interview with German broadcaster Sat.1. He strongly condemned Ben-Gvir's language, describing it as "dehumanizing" and emphasized that European governments must examine potential sanctions "very seriously."

Klingbeil stated that he stands in solidarity with the State of Israel but draws the line at ministers like Ben-Gvir. The German government finds the actions of the Israeli government unacceptable, citing Israel's conduct since October 2023. This includes the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the deepening of an apartheid system in the occupied West Bank, and the expansion of illegal settlements at an unprecedented pace.

Klingbeil accused Ben-Gvir of "playing with fire" and warned that his comments had crossed a crucial boundary. In a recent podcast with Rom Braslavski, a former Israeli captive held in Gaza, Ben-Gvir had proposed killing between 30 and 40 people in the enclave every night.