Australia joins sanctions on Israeli ministers

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Tuesday that Australia has joined Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom in announcing sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich “for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”.

The five-nation joint statement said the ministers “have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights” and described extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and creation of new Israeli settlements as “appalling and dangerous”.

Wong emphasised that the measures do not affect Australia’s support for Israel’s security. “The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel’s security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas,” she said.

“We continue to want a strong friendship with the people of Israel based on our shared ties, values and commitment to their security and future.”

The joint statement described settler violence as being “incited by extremist rhetoric which calls for Palestinians to be driven from their homes, encourages violence and human rights abuses and fundamentally rejects the two-state solution”.