Austria Considers Imposing Entry Ban on Violent Israeli Settlers
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Austrian Foreign Minister is considering banning violent Israeli settlers, with the Middle East country being in a multi-fronted war with Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran.
- Austria preferred an EU-wide approach, indicating that all EU countries should introduce more stringent measures for Israelis who have committed violence.
- Germany and France are also considering similar measures while the United Kingdom has already introduced restrictions for the settlers.
Austria is considering implementing a travel ban on violent Israeli settlers, according to an announcement by Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. This decision follows suit of the United States, Germany, and France, which are all debating over measures to address the security concerns.
According to “Die Kleine Zeitung”, Schallenberg said that Austria preferred a unified EU-wide regulation, denouncing the violent behaviour of these settlers as “absolutely unacceptable and irresponsible.
The ongoing discussions within the EU to have individuals involved in acts of violence against Palestinians barred from entering the Schengen Area, are a gesture of solidarity with the victims and also convey the message that the EU disapproves of such actions, as Vindobona reports.
The United Kingdom has already taken action, leading the list of countries that have imposed bans on Israeli settlers, while the German Foreign Ministry has welcomed the US visa ban on Israeli settlers who have committed crimes in the West Bank.
We welcome that the US has adopted a clear stance, just as we are, and now will take concrete measures in the form of entry restrictions.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sebastian Fischer
According to “DerStandard”, the Austrian Foreign Ministry is open to an EU-wide solution but is still awaiting concrete proposals, and once a draft is available for consideration, the ministry remains open to imposing such measures.
The EU countries might start implementing their own measures if a consensus within the EU is reached. This proposal has been met with controversy in Israel, with critics of the occupation policy calling for more stringent measures, while the Israeli government rejects the proposals.
At present, Israeli citizens enjoy visa-free entry into the EU, but the proposed entry ban could extend to the entire Schengen area, specifically targeting individuals involved in violent activities.
Even having a second passport from an EU member state, which is very common among Israeli citizens, might not provide relief in such cases. For instance, an Israeli citizen holding an Austrian second passport could potentially be barred from entering Austria at Schwechat Airport under an EU-wide regulation.
This entry ban can affect several Israelis in Europe, but estimates in the United States suggest that no more than a few dozen individuals can be impacted. However, high-ranking US representatives argue that the purpose of such a visa ban is to be a deterrent against future violent incidents.
The EU authorities would probably use their lists of offenders on whether someone had been convicted of violent assaults in Israel, with the entry ban applying to these specific individuals. However, this is only the case in a minority of the cases documented by human rights organisations.