PARIS, Jun 7: Israeli settlers could face further sanctions in coming days in protest at the escalation of illegal settlements in the West Bank and a surge in violence by settlers against Palestinians, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Sunday.
Speaking to Public Senat television and RTL radio, Barrot did not name the European countries he said could impose further measures. But in a reference to the previous EU sanctions, he said: "We could go further, and in the coming days, further sanctions could be imposed."
His remarks follow escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and underscore anger in many Western countries toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which has expanded settlements. Diplomats say that expansion is aimed at undermining prospects for a Palestinian state.
"I am extremely concerned about the escalation of illegal settlement activity in the West Bank and the surge in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians," Barrot said.
"This is why I have pushed for sanctions to be imposed not only on those responsible for this violence, but also on the entities, companies and organisations in Israel that are providing these extremist settlers with the means to drive Palestinians from their land, burn their crops and destroy their public buildings," he said.
He said the previous measures were "a way of calling on the Israeli government to face up to its responsibilities regarding this violence which, in my view, also undermines the authority of the state to some extent."
"Over the past few months, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated significantly," Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand said in a joint statement. "REUTERS
