The sanctions are aimed at people and organizations that are said to be responsible for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. They are imposed using the EU sanctions instrument to punish serious human rights violations.
People who are affected are no longer allowed to enter the EU or do business with EU citizens. In addition, their EU accounts and other assets must be frozen. The sanctions are seen as a sign of a change of course in the EU's Israel policy - even if the punitive measures themselves have comparatively little impact on those affected. The EU has repeatedly condemned acts of violence and the construction of settlements - but to date, there has never been the necessary consensus for punitive measures. With the sanctions, the EU is following the example of the USA. They have already imposed punitive measures aimed at extremist Israeli settlers. The USA accuses those affected, among other things, of taking part in violence against Palestinian civilians. The names of those affected will soon be published in theEU Official Journal. According to information from the dpa, the first step involves four people and two organizations. Only last week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described developments in the area as extremely worrying.