Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Critiques EU Sanctions

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister has claimed that the EU is using a “socially acceptable mask” of anti-Zionism to target Israel, specifically citing recent sanctions on Israeli civil society groups that oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Sharen Haskell expressed concern about what she perceives as a troubling trend: traditional anti-Semitism evolving into a modern form of anti-Zionism. In her words, “Whereas once prejudice was directed at individual Jews, it is now aimed at the Jewish state and its right to exist in its ancestral homeland.” She argues that these political actions are, at their core, attacks on Jewish life itself.

The European Union has sanctioned four Israeli civil society groups alongside three of their leaders, alleging that they incite “settler violence” and hinder the possibility of Palestinian statehood. Regavim, one of the organizations affected, views these sanctions as an infringement on Israeli sovereignty.

Naomi Khan, Regavim’s director of international affairs, emphasized that their work focuses on legal and parliamentary efforts, aiming to highlight areas where Israeli policies may be lacking. He suggested that the EU’s actions reflect an attempt to influence the domestic affairs of what should be ally nations. “They don’t appreciate when we point out the absurdity of the situation,” he remarked.

The EU’s External Action Service criticized extremist settlers and their supporting organizations, asserting that they contribute to violence and land seizures in the West Bank.

In a detailed statement, the EEAS clarified that the sanctions are aimed at individuals and entities that promote actions harmful to Palestinians, including violence and human rights violations. They accused Regavim of lobbying for the destruction of Palestinian property, referencing an EU-backed school in Javed al-Dib.

Khan pointed out that the school was unlawfully constructed on land within a nature reserve linked to the Herodian complex, noting that it was ultimately demolished after legal proceedings. She argued that the school was hazardous, presenting an “utterly dangerous” environment for students and teachers.

According to the Oslo Accords, the West Bank is divided into three areas: Area A, controlled by Palestinians; Area B, where Palestinians manage civil matters but Israel maintains security; and Area C, fully under Israeli control.

Khan further claimed that the EU and the Palestinian Authority are systematically violating laws to exert control over Area C by forcing the establishment of schools and other structures. Regavim’s report hinted at around 100 illegal schools in the area as part of a broader annexation strategy by the PA.

Separately, a 2023 study by Regavim counted approximately 103,000 unauthorized Arab-built structures in the West Bank, suggesting that large-scale illegal construction is occurring with outside support.

In response to these developments, Israel’s Cabinet recently enacted measures to counter the PA’s attempts at establishing de facto control over disputed territories. They declared null any efforts by Ramallah to create parallel land registries in Area C.

Haskell stated that the real issue is not violence, but the political opposition expressed by the sanctioned groups, which challenge the two-state solution and highlight alleged illegal constructions by the EU in Judea and Samaria.

She accused the EU of trying to shift the facts on the ground to appropriate Israeli land, asserting that while there are, of course, legal transgressions in any society, these represent a minority viewpoint. Haskell contended that equating the actions of hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Israelis with those of terrorist groups like Hamas distorts moral clarity.

Her statements seemed to assert that this kind of narrative undermines the legitimate efforts of a democratic nation protecting its citizens against threats, drawing a distinction between a democracy and a terrorist body seeking destruction.

Although Fox News Digital sought further comments from the European External Action Service, it received only a reference back to the sanctions statement.