Britain is implementing personal sanctions targeting Israel National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The United Kingdom has now imposed sanctions on two extreme far-right ministers from Israel due to their “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities” in the occupied West Bank. Israel has built more than 160 illegal settlements, housing some 700,000 jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East War.
This follows last month’s British announcement to suspend free trade agreement negotiations with Israel. Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador to London, Tzipi Hotovely, was summoned for an urgent meeting due to renewed hostilities in Gaza. The British Foreign Office stated that the escalation of military activities in Gaza and Israeli policies in the West Bank hinder progress on the agreement. Earlier this year, the UK imposed sanctions on several Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), including the Nachala movement and construction firm Libi, accusing them of violence against Palestinians and furthering colonisation, contrary to international community views. In their press release, the UK government indicates that the sanctions are made under its Global Human Rights Sanctions regime, and in response to their repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities, alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. Subsequently, a Joint statement was released today by the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. This statement delineates the measures aimed at Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, while also affirming their commitment to the two-state solution, which they characterise as the sole means to ensure security and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians, thereby fostering long-term stability in the region.
Although their measures focus primarily on the West Bank, their collective statement emphasises that such sanctions cannot be viewed separately from the onslaught in Gaza. Anadolu Ajansı has the story…
IMAGE: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (right) and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (Source: Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Burak Bir reports forAnadolu Ajansı...
UK sanctions 2 Israeli officials over remarks against Palestinians
Israel’s security minister and finance minister ‘incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights,’ says British foreign secretary
Britain has sanctioned two far-right Israeli Cabinet ministers over their “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities,” an official statement said Tuesday. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will face a travel ban and have their assets frozen as part of the measures announced by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Later, the UK’s Foreign Office said in a statement that they took this action alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. They also called for immediate action against extremist settlers in the occupied West Bank.
“The UK has made clear in public and private to the Netanyahu government that Israel must cease expansion of illegal settlements which undermine a future Palestinian state, clamp down on settler violence, and condemn inflammatory and extremist statements from both individuals,” the Foreign Office said.
Along with counterparts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, Lammy highlighted that they 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,” he said, adding that these actions are “not acceptable.”
‘There must be no unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza’
The joint statement also said that although they have engaged the Israeli government on this issue “extensively,” violent perpetrators continue to act with “encouragement and impunity.”
“Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous,” they added.
The statement underlined that today’s measures focus on the West Bank, but “of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza.”
“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,” the statement added.
According to the BBC, responding to the sanctions, Israel said it is “outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.”
Since the start of Israel’s assault on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, at least 974 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
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