YAPS Q&A: Is the EU Using False Data to Sanction Israelis?

On May 11, 2026, the European Union's Council of Foreign Ministers announced its intention to sanction violent settler organizations and their leaders, along with Hamas leaders. But have the Israeli organizations targeted by the sanctions actually participated in any violence? How reliable are the UN database and NGO reporting about settler violence, on the basis of which EU ministers made their sanctions decisions? Are terrorists who die while carrying out attacks really also reported as victims of settler violence in the UN OCHA database? In an interview with YAPS is Mrs Naomi Linder Kahn, director of the international department of Regavim, one of the organizations targeted by the sanctions. Regavim is an Israeli think-thank and research institute that documents the construction in the West Bank. They have documented illegal EU-funded construction in Area C and the environmental damage and security issues caused by these unauthorized projects. The interview raises questions about freedom of speech, the politicization of human rights discourse, and the role of international institutions in shaping public narratives about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. #settlerviolence, #EUsanctions, #Regavim, #Israel, #occupiedterritories