BRUSSELS, June 15 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – European Union foreign ministers did not reach a consensus to approve sanctions against Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas confirmed on Monday.
The decision followed a Foreign Affairs Council meeting held in Luxembourg. While many member states proposed the implementation of penalties, the 27-country bloc lacked the required unanimity to pass the measures.
Catalyst for the debate
The push for sanctions followed global outrage after Ben-Gvir posted a video of himself taunting activists who had intended to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza. In the footage, activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla were seen pinned to the ground. The activists subsequently accused forces under the minister’s authority of severe physical and sexual assault.
“Many member states have also proposed to sanction Minister Ben-Gvir, but no consensus on that was reached,” Kallas said.
Beyond the flotilla incident, member states cited his history of rhetoric regarding the conflict. Officials pointed to his record of advocating for harsh West Bank settlement expansions and comments perceived as inciting violence against Palestinians.
Internal divisions among member states
The effort to impose bloc-wide asset freezes and travel bans faced significant internal opposition. Several nations, including France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and the Netherlands, aggressively advocated for the sanctions.
However, staunch allies of Israel within the union blocked the move. Diplomats from countries such as the Czech Republic argued that targeting Ben-Gvir could backfire. They suggested that such actions might allow his political base to characterize him as a victim of a Western conspiracy.
Individual nation actions
Because the EU failed to act as a unified body, individual countries have pursued independent measures. France and Spain have moved to ban Ben-Gvir from entering their sovereign territories. Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the minister regarding the alleged kidnapping and torture of Italian citizens during the aid flotilla incident.
Ben-Gvir, who previously served as a lawyer for radical right-wing activists, has a history of legal friction within Israel. As a young activist, he was exempted from compulsory military service because security agencies deemed his political views an internal risk. He was also convicted at least eight times in Israeli courts for offenses including incitement to racism, rioting, and supporting a banned terrorist organization.
While direct personal sanctions remain stalled, Kallas announced that the EU is exploring alternative avenues. Several member states are backing a formal request to the European Commission to draft a list of options for possible trade measures. These potential restrictions would target illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The bloc is expected to formally debate these trade options during the next foreign ministers’ summit in July.
