EU Split Over Sanctions on Israel's Far‑Right Ministers as Ben‑Gvir Calls for Beirut Attack

European Union officials reported a lack of consensus on imposing sanctions against Israeli far‑right ministers Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Germany advocated limiting sanctions to a single individual, supporting measures against Ben‑Gvir while rejecting any action against Smotrich. The Czech Republic blocked the proposal, preventing the EU from adopting a unified travel ban or asset‑freeze package.

Separately, Ben‑Gvir used his social‑media account to demand that Israel bomb the Dahieh district of Beirut, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve such an operation. Israel’s finance minister Smotrich echoed the call for extensive strikes on the same area. The statements came amid ongoing Israel‑Lebanon hostilities, multiple extensions of a temporary cease‑fire, and reports of thousands of Lebanese casualties since early March.