While Israeli soldiers and American sailors are fighting for the free world and intercepting Iran’s missile terror, the European Union made a decision in Brussels on Monday that is almost unmatched in its audacity: It sanctioned Jewish citizens in Judea and Samaria — in the same breath as Hamas terrorists.

This is not only politically wrong. It is morally bankrupt.

Israel does Europe’s dirty work — and is punished for it

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put it plainly: “While Israel and the United States are doing Europe’s dirty work and fighting for civilization against jihadist madmen in Iran and elsewhere, the European Union has revealed its moral bankruptcy by drawing a false symmetry between Israeli citizens and Hamas terrorists.”

It is a symmetry that should outrage every decent person.

On one side of the EU sanctions package stand Hamas officials — men who planned and carried out October 7, who raped women, murdered children and burned babies.

On the other side: Jewish farmers, rabbis, community founders and organizations that have lived for generations in their historic homeland. People whose ancestors worked the same soil long before the EU even existed.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated it clearly: “Israel has stood for the right of Jews to settle in the heart of our homeland — and will continue to do so. No other people in the world has such a documented and deeply rooted right to its land as the Jewish people have to the Land of Israel.”

Ben-Gvir calls it by its name — and he is right

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir simply called the EU “antisemitic” and said the bloc has consistently ignored attacks on Israel.

One may argue over Ben-Gvir’s style. But in this case, not over his assessment.

The sanctions package, which imposes asset freezes and travel bans on three individuals and four settler organizations, had been blocked for months by the Hungarian veto of then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — one of the few European politicians still capable of distinguishing friend from foe.

His successor, Péter Magyar, dropped the blockade — and Budapest approved the package.

As for the names of the sanctioned individuals and organizations: Among those affected are the Nachala movement and its leader Daniela Weiss, as well as the Amana and Regavim organizations.

Daniela Weiss — a grandmother who has dedicated her life to Jewish development in Judea and Samaria — is now being punished by the same European bureaucrats who looked away for decades while Palestinian terrorists murdered Israelis.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas commented dryly: “It was high time to move from blockage to delivery. Extremism and violence have consequences.”

Indeed, Ms. Kallas — extremism and violence do have consequences.

Perhaps you might begin with October 7.

Next, Brussels is planning a trade ban on goods from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria — a step expected to be on the agenda at the next EU Council meeting in June.

Europe has made its choice.

The question is whether Israel and its friends around the world will draw the necessary conclusions.

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