The Irish Minister of State for International Cooperation, Neale Richmond, revealed his country's efforts to form a unified European response to the Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank, emphasizing the need to expand sanctions on Israel and settlers, and to ban the entry of settlement goods and services into the European Union.

Settler practices harm the two-state solution

He condemned the escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories, pointing out that the assaults are not limited to the Israeli government but also include settlers, asserting that these practices cause significant harm to the prospects of a two-state solution.

In response to a question about the "E1" settlement plan and Israeli expansion projects in the West Bank, Richmond stated that his country wants a coordinated European response to the escalation, starting from the economic side.

He announced that Ireland has banned the import of products coming from Israeli settlements and is seeking to have European partners adopt the same approach, aiming to send a clear message to the Israeli government that the continuation of settlement expansion, annexation of land, and violence against Palestinians is unacceptable.

He stressed the importance of continuing humanitarian aid to Palestinians, particularly the support provided to UNRWA, noting that his country is working to protect this effort at a time when some European countries are moving to withdraw their support for the agency.

Continuing support for Palestinians

Richmond called on the European Union to act with one voice in multilateral forums, including continuing support for Palestinians, recognizing the State of Palestine, and putting the two-state solution back at the forefront of the international agenda.

He pointed out that the European Union has already imposed sanctions on individuals linked to settlement activities, but he called for broader measures, including banning trade and services related to settlements, and expanding the scope of sanctions to include more individuals and entities involved in violations against Palestinians.

He stated that Ireland is working with countries that share similar positions, including Spain and the Netherlands, to create a greater economic impact, which not only includes banning settlement goods and services but also extends to imposing broader sanctions on Israel and reducing the benefits it enjoys in its trade relations with the European Union.

Richmond affirmed that his country, during its presidency of the Council of the European Union, is capable of pushing for a firmer European stance, noting that Ireland will host next week the EU foreign ministers to discuss the issue of Israeli occupation in the West Bank.

Condemnation of Israeli actions

He revealed that there is a difference in the positions of European countries, but the majority have managed in recent months to move from merely condemning the war on Gaza to also condemning Israeli actions in the West Bank.

He added that his country will continue to build a European coalition that pushes for actions based on international law and human rights, considering that the responsibility of the European Union increases in light of what he described as a threat to international law and human rights. He called for reviving the coordinated European stance regarding economic sanctions and sanctions against settlers.

He affirmed that Ireland will continue to defend the two-state solution, urging the international community to keep this option on the agenda and to enhance policies aimed at countering Israeli actions that threaten its realization.