UK bans entry for Israeli settlers engaged in West Bank violence
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British Foreign Secretary David Cameron announces entry bans against Israeli settlers engaging in attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and Ireland suggests the EU do the same.
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David Cameron, Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth arrives for a meeting at 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday, December 12, 2023. (AP)
On Thursday, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron announced that individuals accountable for settler violence against Palestinians would face entry bans into Britain, aligning with a comparable initiative by the European Union.
UN figures demonstrated that daily settler attacks in the occupied West Bank have more than doubled since the start of Israeli aggression on Gaza and the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
"Extremist settlers, by targeting and killing Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians," Cameron said on X.
Extremist settlers, by targeting and killing Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) December 14, 2023
Israel must take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable.
We are banning those responsible for…
"Israel must take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable. We are banning those responsible for settler violence from entering the UK to make sure our country cannot be a home for people who commit these intimidating acts."
EU should consider sanctions, travel bans for extremist settlers
In a similar context, Irish Premier Leo Varadkar suggested on Thursday that the EU take action against extremist Israeli settlers to stop their attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank through measures such as sanctions and travel bans.
"The EU should consider sanctions and travel bans for extremist Jewish settlers," Varadkar told the press before a two-day European Council meeting in Brussels.
He said that the stance of European countries on the ongoing Palestinian issue is changing, highlighting the increasing support from more European nations for last week's UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a resolution co-sponsored by Ireland, indicating a convergence with the Irish position.
Read next: Irish MPs eye bringing 'Israel' before ICC, expelling Israeli envoy
Sympathy growing for Palestine
Varadkar emphasized that a significant number of young Europeans and Americans are increasingly expressing strong sympathy for the Palestinians, underscoring the importance for European governments to consider this sentiment.
According to him, this is concerned with the EU’s credibility, arguing that the union should take an unbiased stance that pays attention to the sufferings in Gaza while "condemning Hamas".
"The EU should be behind efforts for a peace process which would include a Palestinian state in line with the two-state solution," he urged.
Also speaking to the press, Belgian Premier Alexander De Croo said a cease-fire in Gaza is necessary for humanitarian aid to reach the enclave, adding that "unnecessary killings must stop".
Since the start of Israeli aggression on Gaza, at least 18,608 Palestinians have been killed and 50,594 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Earlier on Wednesday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adopt a more assertive stance against settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
"Spoke with @IsraeliPM Netanyahu in relation to the resolution being discussed today in the UN ... I stressed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israel must take a tougher approach to settler violence in the West Bank," Rutte said on X.
📞: Spoke with @IsraeliPM Netanyahu in relation to the resolution being discussed today in the UN. The Netherlands condemns the violence committed by Hamas, but also calls for substantial humanitarian pauses to allow aid to be delivered and hostages to be released. The…
— Mark Rutte (@MinPres) December 12, 2023
The Dutch Prime Minister also emphasized that the Netherlands calls for significant humanitarian pauses to facilitate aid delivery and captives' release. Additionally, the country continues to urge "Israel" to exercise greater restraint in its military actions, emphasizing the need for proportionality in line with international humanitarian law.
US alleged travel ban on Israeli settlers
This comes after Axios reported on December 5 that the US State Department is expected to enact a travel ban on Israeli settlers engaged in "violent attacks" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Though the travel ban would prevent Israeli settlers involved in "violent attacks" from traveling to the US, holders of US citizenship would reportedly remain unaffected by this measure, according to two US officials.
According to the report, the State Department is also anticipated to enforce a travel ban on Palestinians engaged in resistance operations against Israelis.
This comes as part of efforts for the US to repair its reputation and avoid a regional escalation after sustaining enormous damage to its support and sponsorship of the Israeli-led genocide in Gaza.
