UK, Australia and Canada sanction two far-right Israeli ministers for inciting West Bank violence
New Zealand and Norway also impose measures on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/10/uk-and-allies-sanction-two-far-right-israeli-ministers-itamar-ben-gvir-bezalel-smotrich-over-monstrous-gaza-comments
The UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway have placed sanctions on two Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, largely for inciting violence against Palestinians in their campaign to gain control of new settlements in the West Bank.
Ben-Gvir, the security minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, and Smotrich, the finance minister, will face travel bans and have any assets in the five countries frozen. It was stressed that they were being sanctioned in their personal capacity, placing no restrictions on the ministries they lead. Netanyahu has promised to retaliate.
The move was quickly condemned by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who called for the sanctions to be lifted and said the US stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Israel.
“These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war,” Rubio wrote, adding: “We remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is.”
Yeah it's you. You just said you want all Palestinians gone...
In a carefully prepared move, for which Israel had little advance notice, the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, announced the sanctions in a joint statement: “We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution and will continue to work with our partners towards its implementation.
“It is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability in the region, but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion.
“Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account.
“We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas, which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution.
“Today’s measures focus on the West Bank, but of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza. We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid. There must be no unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or within the West Bank, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.”
Charred agricultural equipment in the West Bank village of Dayr Dibwan after a reported attack by Israeli settlers on June 5th
The previous UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, said he had planned to take the move against the two ministers last summer, but held back when he was told the decision was too political to take during an election campaign.
By building an alliance of five countries, the UK may hope to protect itself from being the sole subject of Israeli and US anger. It may also be intended to stress Israel’s growing international isolation, but that will not disturb Israel as long as it has the protection of the White House.
The EU requires unanimity among its 27 states to take parallel action, and would face resistance from Hungary. It is instead looking at possible trade restrictions that only require a qualified majority of EU states to approve them. Pressure has been building for concrete action in Canada, Norway and Australia.
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