The European Union intends to discuss banning products from Israeli settlements

SadaNews - EU foreign ministers will discuss banning the import of products from Israeli settlements, following pressures from several member states on the bloc to take action, according to diplomats reported on Friday.

Diplomats expected that the discussion taking place at a meeting in Brussels on Monday will not lead to any concrete decisions, but will help clarify the level of support available to move forward with such measures.

Countries in the European Union, including Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain, have imposed their own trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, which are considered illegal under international law.

Under increasing pressure on the bloc to take action, options to limit trade with the settlements, including the imposition of a ban, were proposed this week. There is disagreement within the EU regarding whether this measure requires consensus among the 27 states or if a majority is sufficient.

Diplomats say that Germany and Italy have not yet made up their minds about this step.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. More than 500,000 settlers live among roughly three million Palestinians in the West Bank, excluding occupied East Jerusalem, in settlements and illegal outposts according to international law.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the "ongoing" settlement expansion in the West Bank, stating in a report last month that these settlements contribute to the "largest displacement crisis in the West Bank since 1967."

Divisions have long hindered the EU's ability to adopt a unified stance towards Israel, as some member states support it, while others back the Palestinians.