Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has lashed out at new European Union sanctions targeting Israeli settlers, rejecting the measures as illegitimate.
In a statement, the office condemned the move, saying “sanctioning Jews for living” in the occupied West Bank is “unacceptable”.
“Israel will always protect the rights of Jews to live in the heart of our ancestral homeland,” the statement said, adding: “The European Union’s attempts to sanction Israeli civilians is a further sign of weakness and will not succeed.”
The sanctions were confirmed by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who said they target settlers involved in attacks on Palestinians.
Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.
