The European Union is considering taking steps against settlers in the West Bank

Settlers march under the protection of the occupation army in front of the village of Burqa, north of Nablus (Al Jazeera)

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that the European Union is considering taking steps against settlers responsible for violence in the occupied West Bank.

Haaretz quoted a diplomat as saying that the decision taken by the United States in this regard may speed up a decision in the European Union, suggesting that the sanctions will include banning entry into EU countries and freezing assets.

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US President Joe Biden issued an executive order a few days ago aimed at punishing Jewish settlers who attack Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Biden believed that "the situation in the occupied West Bank, especially the high levels of violence by extremist settlers (...) and the destruction of property has reached unbearable levels, and constitutes a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and the Middle East region."

It is noteworthy that 12 European countries, Canada and Australia issued a statement last December condemning the violence of extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, the occupation authorities and settlers carried out 1,593 attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, including 186 attacks carried out by settlers.

The violations were concentrated in Hebron Governorate, followed by occupied Jerusalem and Nablus Governorate.

Violations include theft of livestock and agricultural machinery, seizure of vehicles, uprooting and burning trees, and demolitions of homes and facilities.

The director of the authority said that the attacks have taken a serious form, represented by the heavy fines imposed by the so-called Settlements Council on Palestinian farmers and shepherds, amounting to hundreds of thousands of shekels, with the aim of restricting them and forcing them to leave.

Source: Al Jazeera