EU Weighs Trade Sanctions and Arms Embargo on Israel

The European Union is preparing to debate a broad package of punitive measures against Israel in response to alleged human-rights violations, according to multiple regional media reports on Saturday. Draft options circulating among member states include imposing trade sanctions, banning weapons exports to Israel, and blacklisting specific Israeli officials and West Bank settlers. Diplomats are also set to weigh suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, the bloc’s principal framework for political and economic cooperation with Israel. The discussion is expected to take place in Brussels in the middle of the coming week, signalling the strongest coordinated EU response yet to Israel’s conduct in the Palestinian territories. Any decision would require unanimous approval by the 27 member states.