EU agrees to sanctions on Israeli settlers after Hungary’s new government lifts veto

EU agrees to sanctions on Israeli settlers after Hungary’s new government lifts veto Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 09:21 Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar broke the deadlock after his right-wing predecessor Viktor Orban had stalled the long-awaited measures Israeli settlers stand next to Israeli soldiers during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, 9 May 2026 (Reuters/Mussa Qawasma) Off EU foreign ministers have agreed to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers over rising violence against Palestinians after Hungary’s new government removed a veto imposed by the country’s former right-wing prime minister. Viktor Orban, a close Israeli ally, had stalled EU plans to expand sanctions amid a surge in settler attacks across the occupied West Bank since October 2023. He was voted out of power in April, with his successor Peter Magyar moving to break the months-long deadlock.