CDU Politician Calls for EU Sanctions on Israeli Ministers Over 'Red Line' Remarks

Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, is advocating for European Union sanctions against Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Hardt believes the two ministers have crossed "red lines" in German-Israeli policy with their public statements.

Specifically, Hardt cites recent remarks by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who reportedly suggested in an interview that targeted killings should occur nightly in Gaza and that some individuals are "not even human" and "do not deserve to live." These comments, along with similar sentiments from Minister Smotrich, have prompted Hardt to call for action.

Hardt, who also serves as vice-president of the German-Israeli Society, stated that "The two ministers are a burden to German and European cooperation. They are a burden to relations with Germany." He is urging the EU to impose personal sanctions, which would include travel bans to the EU, freezing European bank accounts, and prohibiting business dealings within the bloc for the two ministers.