Ireland is seeking to build a unified European position in response to Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank, including expanding sanctions against Israel and Israeli settlers and banning settlement products and services from European Union markets.

Irish Minister of State for International Cooperation Neale Richmond said his country is working to rally European states behind coordinated economic measures in response to settlement expansion and Israeli actions in the West Bank. He stressed that the attacks involve not only the Israeli government but also settlers.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Richmond said Ireland wants the European response to begin with economic measures, noting that his country has banned imports of products originating from Israeli settlements and is seeking to persuade its European partners to take similar action.

He said the measures are intended to send a message to the Israeli government that continued settlement expansion, land annexation and violence against Palestinians are unacceptable.

Source:Websites