July 15 (Reuters) – The European Union announced sanctions on Monday against five Israeli individuals and three entities, describing them as responsible for “serious and systematic human rights abuses” against Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Also on the list were Ben-Zion Gopstein, founder and leader of the Lehava organisation, and Isaschar Manne, whom the EU described as the founder of an unauthorised outpost in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
There was no immediate comment by those sanctioned.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel, a proponent of settlements, called the sanctions an “inappropriate and unacceptable step between friendships” and an undemocratic intervention in Israeli democracy that harms freedom of expression and protest among Israeli citizens.
“Imposing sanctions on Israeli citizens in settlements or among right-wing organizations is crossing a red line,” said Smotrich, who seeks to have these sanctions cancelled.
The European Union sanctions, under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, include an asset freeze and a travel ban to the EU countries.
Including Monday’s listings, 113 natural and legal persons and 31 entities from a range of countries have been sanctioned under the Regime.
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Reporting by Piotr Lipinski and Steven Scheer, Editing by Timothy Heritage and Richard Chang
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