Hundreds of European ex-ministers urge EU sanctions against Israeli E1 settlement

Over 500 ex-ministers and top officials from across Europe have called on the EU to take action against Israel's expansion of settlements, including imposing sanctions on financial institutions that back the projects. In their appeal, these signatories urged the European Commission to "show leadership" by proposing measures to "sanction all financial institutions and other providers of services to the implementation of E1 and other illegal settlements."

Former French prime ministers Dominique de Villepin and Alain Juppe, former Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema, and former Swedish prime minister Stefan Lofven are among those who have signed the statement, alongside former EU foreign affairs chief and former Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell.

The push for EU action comes as Israel approaches the deadline for awarding the first contracts for the E1 settlement project, which would divide the occupied West Bank and jeopardize the prospect of a Palestinian state. In May, 12 countries, including the UK, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy, had warned businesses of "legal and reputational consequences" if they participated in the E1 bid.

The European Commission has been hesitant to propose a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements this year, and the EU's 27 foreign ministers are expected to meet next week in Luxembourg amid ongoing concerns over the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Signatories to the call for action highlighted that over 200 Palestinian children have been killed since a US-brokered ceasefire last year, and that Israel and Hamas continue to exchange regular military fire.

They also noted that there has been no disarmament, no withdrawal of Israeli forces, and that reconstruction efforts in Gaza have been blocked by the 'Board of Peace' plans.

While some EU states have taken unilateral action due to inertia within the bloc, each country has implemented distinct measures. Spain and the Netherlands, for example, include some services in their bans, while Spain and the Netherlands restrict the ban to goods. The UK is the only nation that has indicated a willingness to establish a sanctions regime.

This has sparked Israeli government anger, which recently expelled Dutch diplomats serving in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Recent data from the UN shows that the number of companies engaging in business with settlements in the West Bank has increased by one-third this year, with prominent travel firms and materials suppliers among the 214 companies listed.