EU Summit Set to Avoid Israel Sanctions Amid Internal Divisions

During a meeting of the Political and Security Committee in Brussels, German and Czech diplomats signaled their firm opposition to blacklisting extremist ministers or banning trade with West Bank settlers. This resistance halts efforts to impose a visa ban on Israeli security minister Itmar Ben-Gvir, despite his direct involvement in the confrontation with EU nationals during May’s Gaza aid flotilla. Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Janša is expected to join this veto bloc, further complicating any unified response.

France and a coalition of ten other member states have advocated for a ban on settler-produced imports, a measure that could theoretically bypass total unanimity through a qualified majority vote. However, the success of this strategy hinges on Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has refrained from committing to the proposal, stating she prefers to wait for formal European Commission evaluations. Meloni warned that isolating Israel risks empowering extremist factions on both sides of the conflict, signaling a cautious approach that aligns with the broader institutional hesitation currently stalling the Commission’s legislative process.