France and allies draft national sanctions against West Bank settlers

European diplomats confirmed that the measures—primarily targeting violent settlers through asset freezes and travel bans—are currently being finalized. While the EU remains deadlocked due to a lack of unanimity, countries including Britain and Norway are coordinating with Paris to bypass the bloc's legislative paralysis. This strategy aims to maintain international pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, which continues to expand settlements in ways critics argue effectively dismantle the possibility of a future Palestinian state.

The push for these restrictions follows a pattern of heightened diplomatic friction. On May 22, a group of seven nations, including Australia and Canada, publicly accused Israel of exacerbating regional tensions. Central to these concerns is the controversial E1 project east of Jerusalem, a development that would physically bisect the West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has previously dismissed such sanctions as arbitrary and politically motivated, claiming they target citizens solely for their political views.

To ensure the issue remains at the forefront of global discourse, France will host a ministerial-level meeting in Paris on June 12. The summit will gather civil society representatives alongside a dozen foreign ministers to discuss a roadmap for Palestinian statehood. French officials view this engagement as vital, fearing that the escalating conflicts in Lebanon and Iran are successfully drawing attention away from the deteriorating situation in the occupied territories.