The European Union’s decision to name two senior members of Israel’s government as sanctions targets places the entire war cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under an intense European microscope. The move signals that the EU is now willing to assign personal responsibility for policies it deems unacceptable.
By targeting National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the EU is making a strategic choice to focus on the most hardline, far-right elements of the coalition. This is a direct challenge to Netanyahu’s leadership and his reliance on these figures to maintain his parliamentary majority.
The sanctions proposal effectively draws a line between what the EU considers legitimate security policy and what it sees as extremist-driven actions, particularly regarding the West Bank. It creates a new political dynamic for the war cabinet, where the international actions of some of its members could have direct consequences for the entire state.
This puts Netanyahu in a difficult position. Defending his ministers is a matter of political survival and national sovereignty. However, their continued presence in positions of power is now the explicit cause of a major crisis with Europe. This could create or exacerbate fissures within the cabinet and the broader Israeli political establishment.
While Netanyahu himself has not been named, the message is clear: the leadership and composition of the Israeli government are now factors in its relationship with Europe. The EU is no longer just critiquing policies; it is pointing fingers at the policymakers themselves.
