Image: Yle

In an interview with the Israeli daily Haaretz, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja raised the example where the EU imposed sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

Tuomioja said that the question has also arisen as to why similar sanctions had not been applied in the case of Israel, although it has occupied Palestinian areas for 47 years.

The Foreign Minister pointed out that so far Israel had been offered carrots in an effort to bring about peace in the region. He said that the EU might now have to resort to using the stick.

Tuomioja said that Israel and the Palestinians will not find peace without the United states, however he added that the EU should be involved in helping resolve the conflict.

Tuomioja has previously called for sanctions against both Israel and the Palestinian organisation Hamas in an effort to find peace.