Dr.. Ghassan Al-Khatib: Imposing sanctions on settlers is an insufficient step and ignores the root of the problem and those who sponsor them

Antoine Shalhat: An important step in light of the plundering of lands, and it will be more effective if followed by a Security Council resolution

Dr.. Raed Nairat: The problem is not individual violence, but rather a systematic policy led by settler ministers

Elif Sabbagh: Sanctions will become effective if Arab and Palestinian efforts join forces with European countries

Many countries friendly to Israel, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, France, Canada and Japan, have threatened to impose further sanctions on individuals and organizations associated with Israeli settlements, after the International Court of Justice issued an opinion deeming the Israeli presence in the West Bank illegal, but the question now is: About the importance of this step, as it focused on the symptoms of the problem and did not address its origins, which is that settlement is not the behavior of individual settlers, but rather an official policy, and enjoys the broadest consensus in Israel. Writers, political analysts, and specialists in Israeli affairs confirm, in separate conversations with “Al quds,” that the sanctions imposed on the settlers are an important step, but insufficient, because they ignore the settlement reality and government policies that encourage these practices, as imposing sanctions on the Israeli government is the original, and that Changing the policies of countries supporting Israel can effectively influence its policies.

Analysts and specialists pointed out that the decision of the International Court of Justice is an important step that may lead to increased sanctions from European countries, especially in light of the current Israeli practices related to land plunder and settlement, but the proposed sanctions so far are ineffective, despite their importance.

On the other hand, analysts told ““Al quds” that the statements of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant about lifting restrictions on the use of military aircraft in the West Bank reflect a new phase of crimes. They said: We are still far from imposing effective sanctions on Israel and its leaders, especially since all the crimes that occurred in Gaza did not move the countries of the world to stop these crimes.

A soft message to Israel

The writer and political analyst, Dr. Ghassan Al-Khatib said that the sanctions imposed by the United States, Japan, and perhaps other European countries, on the settlers are an important step, but insufficient.

Al-Khatib pointed out that imposing sanctions on individual settlers is a soft message to Israel that ignores the settlement reality and settlement practices in the Palestinian territories, and that the original is to impose sanctions on the Israeli government that sponsors and encourages these practices.

Al-Khatib pointed out that changing the policies of Israel's major friends from automatic, unconditional support will affect Israeli public opinion and the behavior of its political elite, as imposing sanctions and changing countries' policies towards Israel will effectively affect their policies.

The use of warplanes in the West Bank

Regarding the statements of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant about removing restrictions on the use of warplanes in the West Bank, Al-Khatib said: The problem for Western countries is not the use of aircraft itself, but rather the occurrence of civilian casualties.

Al-Khatib stressed that Western countries, especially European ones, care about human rights, and that the occurrence of civilian casualties, as happened in Gaza, would embarrass the Europeans and affect their support for Israel, which could lead to the imposition of more sanctions.

Expecting an increase in European sanctions after the international justice advisory opinion

As for the writer and specialist in Israeli affairs, Antoine Shalhat, he said that there are expectations of increased sanctions from European countries, especially after the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding the illegality of the Israeli occupation of the 1967 territories.

Shalhat pointed out that the decision is of particular importance in light of the current Israeli practices related to the plundering of lands and settlements, and the pursuit of permanent annexation, and that the decision will be more effective if it is followed by a resolution from the UN Security Council.

Shalhat pointed out that there are hopes that the sanctions on the settlers and their leaders will expand to include the imposition of sanctions by the United States, stressing that the expansion of sanctions has an impact on the occupying state, and this should not be underestimated.

He explained that what the Israeli government is doing in the 1967 territories requires relying on international sanctions, especially from the countries that Israel depends on for armaments and the economy, expressing his optimism that these signs herald a new phase of pressure on Israel to end the occupation and fulfill the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and justice. And independence.

Gallant's threats reveal a crisis in the face of the resistance

Regarding Yoav Galant’s statement about bombing the West Bank with planes, Shalhat said: It reflects the current Israeli government’s policy against the resistance of the Palestinian people in the West Bank, which is integrated with its policy of settlement, land plunder, and annexation. However, Shalhat expects that the momentum of sanctions will lead to curbing the Israeli policy of repression in 1967 lands.

Shalhat pointed out that Gallant's statement reveals the occupation's crisis in the face of the resistance, which prompted him to use the air force, as the situation in the West Bank was on fire before the Israeli aggression on Gaza, and has remained so, despite the greater spotlight on the Gaza Strip.

An action that did not address the root of the problem

In turn, the writer and political analyst Dr. said: Raed Nairat: Talk about imposing sanctions on settlers is acceptable, but it does not deal with the roots of the problem, especially since settlement is in violation of international law.

Nairat pointed out that the problem is not individual violence by settlers, but rather a systematic policy led by settler ministers, expressing his lack of great optimism regarding this talk about imposing sanctions by those countries.

Nairat explained that Israeli positions on settlements, such as those issued by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, appear stronger than the steps of countries that remain only diplomatic.

Nairat said: The sanctions proposed so far are unclear and ineffective, despite their importance, and cannot make a fundamental difference.

He pointed out that critical discussions within Israel about supporting settlers are increasing, as these discussions warn that they will implicate the occupying state.

Fears of a new phase of occupation crimes in the West Bank

Regarding the statement of Israeli Occupation Army Minister Yoav Galant to lift restrictions on the use of military aircraft in the West Bank, Nairat said: “The statement is terrifying and means a return to the use of aircraft as in Gaza, which indicates a new phase of crimes, especially in the camps.”

Despite the seriousness of these statements, Nairat believes that “we are far from imposing sanctions on Israel and the settler leaders,” noting that “if those countries intended to impose sanctions, they would have done so in Gaza, where crimes are committed live, but Nairat points out that there are countries "Freedom may move towards imposing sanctions on Israel in the future."

Actual measures and declaration of a comprehensive boycott are required

The writer and specialist in Israeli affairs, Alif Sabbagh, said: European countries are imposing gradual sanctions on the settlers and their organizations, with expectations that these measures will increase in the future, especially since the settlers and their government defy international law.

He added: We should not wait for actions and measures from the Europeans as long as the Arab regimes do not take similar measures against the occupation authorities.

Sabbagh believes that effective punitive measures cannot be expected from European companies and governments in light of the increasing mutual trade between Arab regimes and companies and Israel.

Sabbagh called on the Arabs to "take effective measures and declare a comprehensive boycott as long as the war of extermination continues and the occupation remains, and we will lose the Europeans on our side."

Gallant's threats were translated directly into the Tulkarm camp

Regarding the statements of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Sabbagh pointed out that Gallant gave orders to the Israeli army and aviation to bomb young men in the Tulkarm camp immediately after he announced the removal of previous restrictions on the army, including the use of military aircraft in the West Bank.

Sabbagh described these measures as unusual, noting that they will continue as long as there is no Palestinian, Arab and international effort to prevent them.

Sabbagh believed that the International Criminal Court’s move to allow seventy countries to submit their legal opinions regarding the court’s powers to issue arrest warrants against Israeli criminals has encouraged Gallant to commit these crimes, as this postponement gives Gallant time to achieve changes on the ground in favor of the occupation forces.

Sabbagh pointed out that the sanctions in the next stage will remain symbolic as long as the normalized Arab regimes do not participate in them, but they could become effective if Arab and Palestinian efforts join forces with European Union countries, multinational companies, universities and European investment funds.

He pointed out that Israel is working day and night to expose the truth about Arab investments in it and Arab imports of settlement production in front of the Europeans.