Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, and Norway have imposed travel bans and asset freezes on two senior members of the Israeli Government.
In a joint statement, the five countries say Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have been sanctioned for “inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”.
The United Nations considers this area occupied by Israel under international law.
Israel has called the sanctions “outrageous”, vowing a formal response next week.
Sanctions
Sanctions are formal punishments against individuals, businesses, government bodies, and groups based overseas.
Countries use sanctions as a way of condemning actions outside their borders, while complying with international law.
Australia has imposed sanctions against thousands of people and groups from across the world, according to the latest figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Types of sanctions
Australia has two main types of sanctions: financial and travel.
Financial sanctions ban business dealings with a person or group.
It is illegal for Australian citizens to give money to someone covered by a sanction.
Travel bans are when a person, who has either been individually identified or associated with a sanctioned organisation, cannot step foot in Australia.
Israel
Overnight, Australia joined four countries in placing sanctions on two Israeli Government ministers: Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
In a joint statement, the five countries’ foreign ministers said: “Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous.”
“We have engaged the Israeli Government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity.”
The measures focus on Israeli settlements established in the West Bank, which are illegal under international law.
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Australia calls the West Bank the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and has voted in favour of a UN motion condemning Israel’s “settlement activities” there.
The joint statement also noted the sanctions against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir “cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza.”
The two ministers have been criticised for their comments about Palestinian people in the past.
Remarks
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the words and actions of Smotrich and Ben-Gvir as government ministers “are extinguishing the prospects of a two-state solution”.
The two-state solution is Australia’s official position: the co-existence of Israeli and Palestinian states.
UK Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer detailed some of the pair’s previous remarks.
“Mr Smotrich said there is no such thing as a Palestinian nation. Mr Ben-Gvir has spoken of his rights in the West Bank,” Falconer told Parliament.
Israeli response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a coalition government, including Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s parties.
Ben-Gvir said the sanctions work to “appease” Hamas.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the Government would hold a meeting next week to coordinate a response.
In a post on social media, U.S. Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio urged for the “reversal of the sanctions”.
Coalition
In Australia, Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash did not expressly criticise the sanctions. However, she called the move “very serious” and asked the Government to provide extra details behind its decision.
Cash’s comments were distributed in a statement earlier today, which said the Government had previously banned Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel from entering the country.
Her office issued a correction an hour later, specifying that Australia has barred former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked.
