The European Union has once again emphasized that the settlements in the West Bank are "illegal" under International Law, after the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, lashed out at the recent statements of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, who suggested banning trade with the settlements in the same way that action was taken against the "illegal" annexation of Crimea by Russia.
"The long-standing position of the EU is that the settlements in the West Bank are illegal under International Law. They constitute an obstacle to peace and to the viability of the two-State solution," stated the spokesperson for the EU External Action Service, Anouar El Anouni, in statements to Europa Press.
At the same time, El Anouni emphasized that the community bloc had already decided at the time "all imports, exports, and investments coming from the illegally annexed peninsula or destined for it" once Moscow completed the annexation in 2014.
These clarifications come after the head of Israeli diplomacy criticized Kallas's words about the prohibition of trade with Israeli settlements, in which she argued that the EU should address this issue "in the same way" as when Russia illegally annexed Crimea.
"The comparison drawn by Kaja Kallas has no factual or legal basis and is completely unacceptable. The connection of the Jewish people and their right to Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and the Land of Israel is documented much more extensively than that of any other people in human history," criticized Saar.
In this line, the minister emphasized that, despite the parallels raised by Kallas, the West Bank "has never belonged to a Palestinian state, which has never existed." "Even the Palestinians themselves signed a negotiated solution for the disputed territories," he indicated.
"What is the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy trying to do? Compare the only democracy in the Middle East, which contributes in so many ways to the defense and security of Europe, with Russia? Has she stopped to think about what she is really saying?" he questioned.
The United Kingdom has communicated this week the veto on the entry of products originating from settlements, a measure coordinated with France and Canada, which thus join the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, and Norway, countries that have already initiated the process to prevent trade with the occupied territories.
Trade sanctions within the EU against Israel remain blocked since last year, when in September the European Commission proposed the partial suspension of the Association Agreement. However, the proposal continues to lack sufficient support —qualified majority— to be able to progress.