EU remains divided over trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements

Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee says the bloc ‘should be moving collectively’ in upholding international law.Published On 3 Sep 20263 Sep 2026European Union foreign ministers remain divided after talks on imposing trade sanctions against Israel amid increasing settler violence in the occupied West Bank.Ireland, the current holder of the EU council presidency, hosted an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wicklow on Tuesday and Wednesday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Will the EU take action against Israel?list 2 of 4Two Palestinians killed as settlers, Israeli forces raid West Bank villagelist 3 of 4EU eyes more Russia sanctions after failed drone attack in Germanylist 4 of 4EU or Eurasia: Why Putin sparred with Armenia’s PMend of listReporting from Wicklow, Al Jazeera’s Peter Smith said Ireland and Spain, with the support of Belgium and the Netherlands, led the call for EU-wide restrictions against goods imported from illegal Israeli settlements at the meeting.He said that Germany, Austria, Czechia and Hungary are clear that they would oppose any attempts to sanction illegal settlements, saying such a move would upset diplomatic channels with Israel.Ire...