French diplomat: European sanctions on Israel unlikely due to German and Hungarian objections

A French diplomatic source revealed to Le Figaro that imposing sanctions from the European Union on Israel is "currently impossible" in light of strong opposition from both Germany and Hungary.

The newspaper quoted a source close to the French presidency as saying that the Israeli Foreign Ministry informed Paris that it is considering closing the French consulate in Jerusalem, warning that France "will respond with measures beyond the usual reciprocal actions" if Tel Aviv takes this step.

These developments come amid increasing tension between Israel and several European countries, as Tel Aviv responded today, Monday, to Spanish sanctions by imposing a ban on the entry of Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz and Youth Minister Sira Rego into Israeli territory, both of whom belong to the "Sumar" party, a partner in the left-wing coalition government in Madrid.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Sa'ar had accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of trying to "distract attention from the corruption scandals surrounding his socialist party," describing the Spanish sanctions as "anti-Semitic."