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عربي21
Kalass Criticizes EU Settlement Trade Ban
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Janez Kallas, called for a ban on trade with Israeli settlements established in the occupied Palestinian territories, considering that such a move would represent a principled stance reflecting rejection of international law and settlement expansion. She pointed out that there is consensus among foreign ministers that settlements are illegal, and that imposing the ban does not require unanimous approval; rather, it can be implemented with a qualified majority of 15 countries representing two-thirds of the EU's population. Despite the limited volume of trade, the ban would serve as a strong symbolic message at a time when the European Commission faces pressure to impose restrictions on settlements amid divisions among member states on this issue. Her statements also prompted criticism from Israel, which accused Kallas of comparing settlements to Crimea. Politically and diplomatically, calls have been raised to halt settlement expansions, which undermine the prospects of establishing an independent Palestinian state within a two-state solution.
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