French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (C) inspects cars torched in an attack by Israeli settlers on the West Bank town of Al-Bireh, adjacent to Ramallah. AFP
"France has been a driving force to establish the first sanction regime at the European level targeting individuals or entities, either actors or accomplices of settlement activities", Barrot said after talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah.
"This regime has been activated two times already and we're working on a third batch of sanctions targeting these activities that again are illegal with respect to international law."
Barrot renewed France's commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and warned settlement activities "threaten the political perspective that can ensure durable peace for Israel and Palestine".
The French foreign minister's visit to the occupied Palestinian territory comes as the Israeli army intensified its 13-month old deadly crackdown on the West Bank, killing hundreds of Palestinians, destroying infrastructure in tens of towns and villages, and arresting mmore than 11,000 youth.
Human rights groups and international organisations have verified widespread abuse of inmates detained by Israel in raids in the West Bank.
They have described abusive and humiliating treatment, including holding blindfolded and handcuffed detainees in cramped cages, as well as beatings, intimidation, and harassment.
France has also repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, which killed and wounded more than 150,000 Palestinians.
Before meeting Abbas, Barrot visited the adjacent town of Al-Bireh, where Israeli settlers set fire to 20 cars on Monday, damaging a nearby building.
After speaking with residents and local officials at the scene, Barrot noted that the attack took place in a part of the West Bank where the Palestinians were supposed to enjoy both civil and security control under the Oslo Accords of the 1990s.
"These attacks from extremist and violent settlers are not only completely inexcusable, not only contrary to international law, but they weaken the perspective of a two-state solution," Barrot said.
Laila Ghanem, who was present in Al-Bireh, expressed outrage that settler attacks were "taking place in full view and hearing of the entire silent international community".
"Perhaps today, with the visit of the French foreign minister, there will be a spotlight here," she told AFP.
Speaking in Jerusalem earlier Thursday, Barrot said he saw prospects for ending Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon after Donald Trump's re-election, citing the Republican's "wish to see the end of the Middle East's endless wars" as well as recent "tactical successes" for Israel.
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