EU Foreign Policy Chief Supports Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has voiced support for a bloc-wide ban on trade with Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. Kallas described the potential measure as a "principled stance," asserting that settlement expansion violates international law.

In an interview with The Irish Times, Kallas drew a parallel between the Israeli settlements and Crimea, stating that the EU does not recognize Crimea as Russian following its occupation. She argued that a similar principle should apply to Israeli settlements, meaning trade should cease if they are deemed illegal.

Kallas further indicated that implementing such a trade ban would not require unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. She explained that the measure could be classified as a trade decision, requiring only a qualified majority for adoption. This means at least 15 member states, representing approximately two-thirds of the EU's population, would need to agree.

Previously, imposing sanctions against Israel has faced obstacles due to the EU's foreign policy decisions typically requiring unanimous approval from all member nations.