French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot: “The ever and fast deteriorating situation calls for such action [on Israel”, a joint Franco-Swedish proposal said.
Andrew Rettman
France and Sweden have joined five other EU states seeking sanctions on Israel, with a proposed ban on settler products.
“The EU is not [legally] obliged to impose an import ban on [Israeli] settlement products. However, we believe that the ever and fast deteriorating situation calls for such action,” said France and Sweden in an informal, one-page proposal seen by EUobserver on Monday (20 April).
“Regardless of being in clear violation of international law, settlements and settler violence are increasing at a record pace,” the Franco-Swedish paper said.
“We believe that the EU urgently needs to increase pressure on Israel to halt its settlement policy and practices,” it added.
