European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen has defended this week's proposed sanctions against Israel in response to military action in the Gaza Strip, DPA reported, BTA reports.
In a written interview with European publications, including Germany's “Welt“, she said she understood the scale of the shock of the “Hamas“ attack nearly two years ago, but warned that recent developments were “extremely worrying“.
Von der Leyen stressed that the only path to lasting peace is a two-state solution: a Palestinian state existing alongside Israel. According to her, current Israeli policy looks like “a clear attempt to undermine the two-state solution. That is why the European Commission has proposed a package of “targeted and proportionate measures to find a way forward“.
On Wednesday, the EC presented a series of punitive steps, including the suspension of trade preferences for about a third of Israeli exports to the EU, as well as sanctions against radical Israeli politicians. In addition, Brussels is pushing for new measures against “Hamas“, Palestinian jihadists and violent Israeli settlers.
Whether the proposal will receive the necessary support among the 27 member states remains unclear. The suspension of trade concessions requires the approval of at least 15 countries representing at least 65% of the EU population.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the EU initiative “morally and politically distorted“ and warned that any steps against Israel would lead to response actions.