Netanyahu has become a ‘problem,’ says Danish PM, wants EU to weigh sanctions

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (R) walks past Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas at the start of an informal EU leaders' retreat at the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels on February 3, 2025. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (R) walks past Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas at the start of an informal EU leaders' retreat at the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels on February 3, 2025. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has become a “problem,” adding she will try to put pressure on Israel over the Gaza war as her country currently holds the EU presidency.

“Netanyahu is now a problem in himself,” Frederiksen says in an interview with the Jyllands-Posten daily, adding that the Israeli government is going “too far.”

The center-right leader slams the “absolutely appalling and catastrophic” humanitarian situation in Gaza and new settlement project in the West Bank.

“We are one of the countries that wants to increase pressure on Israel, but we have not yet obtained the support of EU members,” she says.

Frederiksen adds that she wants to consider “political pressure, sanctions, whether against settlers, ministers, or even Israel as a whole,” referring to trade or research sanctions.

“We are not ruling anything out in advance. Just as with Russia, we are designing the sanctions to target where we believe they will have the greatest effect,” adds Frederiksen, whose country is not among those who have said they will recognize the Palestinian state.

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