Australian news and politics live: Albanese calls for increased Gaza aid after Israel's decision to airdrop
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is speaking to ABC Insiders and says the Israeli government's recent decision to permit some aid into Gaza is 'just a start' and emphasised that much more must be done to protect innocent civilians.
He referred to heartbreaking images of a starving one-year-old boy, saying, 'it breaks your heart.'
'A 1-year-old boy is not a Hamas fighter. The civilian casualties and death in Gaza is completely unacceptable. It's completely indefensible. My Government has been very consistent in calling for a ceasefire. We have been consistent in calling out the terrorists in Hamas and saying that the hostages should be released. But we have rules of engagement and they are there for a reason. They are to stop innocent lives being lost and that is what we have seen.'
Mr Albanese expressed how deeply moved he was by the images of this 'innocent young boy.'
'For anyone with any sense of humanity, you have to be moved by that. And you have to acknowledge that every innocent life matters - whether they be Israeli or Palestinian.'
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Huge call on childcare ‘ban' reform
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has revealed it could take up to 12 months to ensure convicted criminals applying for working with children checks (WWCC) cannot evade notice by applying interstate. Ms Rowland said reform was possible 'within certainly the next 12 months' so long as she secured support from state and territory counterparts at a meeting of the country's attorneys-general today. 'We envisage that the most immediate and urgent outcome is to achieve that 'banned in one, banned in all' aspect in the near term,' Ms Rowland told ABC Radio National on Friday morning. 'In the longer term, there needs to be a bar raised right across the states and territories to strengthen those criteria for working with children risk and exclusions. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said reforms to working with children checks could take up to 12 months. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'In terms of timing, these are matters that will be discussed today, so I don't want to pre-empt those outcomes … (but) in terms of the most immediate one to achieve — 'banned in one, banned in all' — I would like to think that this is something that is certainly capable of being done within certainly the next 12 months, if we can have a better sense of that following today's meeting, then that will be a good thing.' The Albanese government has proposed banning nationally anyone barred from working with children in one jurisdiction. Opposition leader Sussan Ley said a 12 month wait for reform of the WWCC system was unacceptable and 'completely unsatisfactory'. She claimed the government's response to reports of alleged child abuse lacked urgency, despite Anthony Albanese calling them a 'wake up call' for governments nationwide. 'The PM has talked a big game on fixing these issues but twelve months to deliver this isn't good enough,' Ms Ley said. 'We've done our bit in the federal parliament to work with the government to pass new laws but it is now up to the Prime Minister to lead and finish the job. 'The States and territories need to get their act together and accelerate this critically important piece of work to protect our kids.' Opposition leader Sussan Ley said a 12 month wait for reform of the WWCC system was unacceptable. NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Ley said there needed to be 'stronger leadership' on the issue, and that the states and territories must be forced to act faster. 'Given the crisis we are seeing in our childcare centres, twelve months for the first set of changes is completely unsatisfactory,' she said. Multiple states and territories are grappling with the fallout from multiple high-profile cases of alleged abuse at childcare centres, namely in NSW and Victoria. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan last month announced measures for all childcare centres in the state to be required to ban personal mobile devices from September 26, and launched an 'urgent review into child safety' the findings of which are due on Friday. Further north, a NSW parliamentary inquiry into the childcare sector in NSW was told by a senior cop managing the child abuse squad that offenders 'shop around' for centres to offend at and urged for a database to be establish for police to be able to access.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
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'Disgust': US diplomat attacks ALP's Palestine decision
America's ambassador to Israel has hit out at Australia's decision to recognise Palestine, saying the US is "disappointed" by the decision. Mike Huckabee, who was appointed to the ambassadorial role by President Donald Trump in April, said the US was taken aback by the federal government's announcement on Monday. "There is an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust," he told ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday night. Mr Huckabee criticised the timing of the statehood announcement. "What Australia and the other countries may have done inadvertently is to push Israel towards doing exactly what they're afraid of," he said. "The result of this has been to completely halt any type of thoughtful negotiations going forward." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will formally recognise Palestine at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in September. Australia's decision comes after other western allies - the UK, France and Canada - unveiled plans to recognise statehood at the summit, with certain conditions. The goal is to end the cycle of violence in Gaza sparked when the designated terrorist group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Federal minister Mark Butler sought to downplay the ambassador's comments. "At the end of the day, this is the ambassador to Israel - his job is to manage the relationship between America and Israel," he told Seven's Sunrise program on Friday. "We are convinced this is the right decision at the right time to help build momentum to break this cycle of violence." While Mr Huckabee said the US got "no heads up" about Australia's decision, Foreign Minister Penny Wong did inform US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of it being made public. Mr Butler denied the US was not informed. "There is a readout from the State Department about that conversation," Mr Butler said. "We're convinced we've made the right decision. "It wasn't one taken lightly. It was one taken after weeks and weeks of consideration." Liberal senator Jane Hume said Americans on both sides of politics had been shocked by the decision on statehood. "This decision by the Labor government has bewildered the Americans, that (the government) essentially departed from years of a strong alliance between Israel and America and Australia to make this decision unilaterally," she told Seven's Sunrise. "This is going to set back the peace process by weeks, potentially months, maybe even years." Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has killed almost 62,000 Palestinians, including 18,000 children, according to local health authorities. The UN projects 2.1 million people in Gaza are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, while 470,000 are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Hamas has still not released all of the Israeli hostages. Mr Albanese has said Australia's recognition is tied to a commitment that Hamas play no role in a future Palestinian state. Almost 150 out of the 193 UN member states have already recognised the state of Palestine, including EU countries Spain and Ireland. The coalition has pledged to reverse Australia's position if it wins the next election. America's ambassador to Israel has hit out at Australia's decision to recognise Palestine, saying the US is "disappointed" by the decision. Mike Huckabee, who was appointed to the ambassadorial role by President Donald Trump in April, said the US was taken aback by the federal government's announcement on Monday. "There is an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust," he told ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday night. Mr Huckabee criticised the timing of the statehood announcement. "What Australia and the other countries may have done inadvertently is to push Israel towards doing exactly what they're afraid of," he said. "The result of this has been to completely halt any type of thoughtful negotiations going forward." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will formally recognise Palestine at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in September. Australia's decision comes after other western allies - the UK, France and Canada - unveiled plans to recognise statehood at the summit, with certain conditions. The goal is to end the cycle of violence in Gaza sparked when the designated terrorist group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Federal minister Mark Butler sought to downplay the ambassador's comments. "At the end of the day, this is the ambassador to Israel - his job is to manage the relationship between America and Israel," he told Seven's Sunrise program on Friday. "We are convinced this is the right decision at the right time to help build momentum to break this cycle of violence." While Mr Huckabee said the US got "no heads up" about Australia's decision, Foreign Minister Penny Wong did inform US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of it being made public. Mr Butler denied the US was not informed. "There is a readout from the State Department about that conversation," Mr Butler said. "We're convinced we've made the right decision. "It wasn't one taken lightly. It was one taken after weeks and weeks of consideration." Liberal senator Jane Hume said Americans on both sides of politics had been shocked by the decision on statehood. "This decision by the Labor government has bewildered the Americans, that (the government) essentially departed from years of a strong alliance between Israel and America and Australia to make this decision unilaterally," she told Seven's Sunrise. "This is going to set back the peace process by weeks, potentially months, maybe even years." Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has killed almost 62,000 Palestinians, including 18,000 children, according to local health authorities. The UN projects 2.1 million people in Gaza are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, while 470,000 are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Hamas has still not released all of the Israeli hostages. Mr Albanese has said Australia's recognition is tied to a commitment that Hamas play no role in a future Palestinian state. Almost 150 out of the 193 UN member states have already recognised the state of Palestine, including EU countries Spain and Ireland. The coalition has pledged to reverse Australia's position if it wins the next election. America's ambassador to Israel has hit out at Australia's decision to recognise Palestine, saying the US is "disappointed" by the decision. Mike Huckabee, who was appointed to the ambassadorial role by President Donald Trump in April, said the US was taken aback by the federal government's announcement on Monday. "There is an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust," he told ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday night. Mr Huckabee criticised the timing of the statehood announcement. "What Australia and the other countries may have done inadvertently is to push Israel towards doing exactly what they're afraid of," he said. "The result of this has been to completely halt any type of thoughtful negotiations going forward." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will formally recognise Palestine at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in September. Australia's decision comes after other western allies - the UK, France and Canada - unveiled plans to recognise statehood at the summit, with certain conditions. The goal is to end the cycle of violence in Gaza sparked when the designated terrorist group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Federal minister Mark Butler sought to downplay the ambassador's comments. "At the end of the day, this is the ambassador to Israel - his job is to manage the relationship between America and Israel," he told Seven's Sunrise program on Friday. "We are convinced this is the right decision at the right time to help build momentum to break this cycle of violence." While Mr Huckabee said the US got "no heads up" about Australia's decision, Foreign Minister Penny Wong did inform US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of it being made public. Mr Butler denied the US was not informed. "There is a readout from the State Department about that conversation," Mr Butler said. "We're convinced we've made the right decision. "It wasn't one taken lightly. It was one taken after weeks and weeks of consideration." Liberal senator Jane Hume said Americans on both sides of politics had been shocked by the decision on statehood. "This decision by the Labor government has bewildered the Americans, that (the government) essentially departed from years of a strong alliance between Israel and America and Australia to make this decision unilaterally," she told Seven's Sunrise. "This is going to set back the peace process by weeks, potentially months, maybe even years." Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has killed almost 62,000 Palestinians, including 18,000 children, according to local health authorities. The UN projects 2.1 million people in Gaza are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, while 470,000 are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Hamas has still not released all of the Israeli hostages. Mr Albanese has said Australia's recognition is tied to a commitment that Hamas play no role in a future Palestinian state. Almost 150 out of the 193 UN member states have already recognised the state of Palestine, including EU countries Spain and Ireland. The coalition has pledged to reverse Australia's position if it wins the next election. America's ambassador to Israel has hit out at Australia's decision to recognise Palestine, saying the US is "disappointed" by the decision. Mike Huckabee, who was appointed to the ambassadorial role by President Donald Trump in April, said the US was taken aback by the federal government's announcement on Monday. "There is an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust," he told ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday night. Mr Huckabee criticised the timing of the statehood announcement. "What Australia and the other countries may have done inadvertently is to push Israel towards doing exactly what they're afraid of," he said. "The result of this has been to completely halt any type of thoughtful negotiations going forward." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will formally recognise Palestine at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in September. Australia's decision comes after other western allies - the UK, France and Canada - unveiled plans to recognise statehood at the summit, with certain conditions. The goal is to end the cycle of violence in Gaza sparked when the designated terrorist group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Federal minister Mark Butler sought to downplay the ambassador's comments. "At the end of the day, this is the ambassador to Israel - his job is to manage the relationship between America and Israel," he told Seven's Sunrise program on Friday. "We are convinced this is the right decision at the right time to help build momentum to break this cycle of violence." While Mr Huckabee said the US got "no heads up" about Australia's decision, Foreign Minister Penny Wong did inform US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of it being made public. Mr Butler denied the US was not informed. "There is a readout from the State Department about that conversation," Mr Butler said. "We're convinced we've made the right decision. "It wasn't one taken lightly. It was one taken after weeks and weeks of consideration." Liberal senator Jane Hume said Americans on both sides of politics had been shocked by the decision on statehood. "This decision by the Labor government has bewildered the Americans, that (the government) essentially departed from years of a strong alliance between Israel and America and Australia to make this decision unilaterally," she told Seven's Sunrise. "This is going to set back the peace process by weeks, potentially months, maybe even years." Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has killed almost 62,000 Palestinians, including 18,000 children, according to local health authorities. The UN projects 2.1 million people in Gaza are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, while 470,000 are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Hamas has still not released all of the Israeli hostages. Mr Albanese has said Australia's recognition is tied to a commitment that Hamas play no role in a future Palestinian state. Almost 150 out of the 193 UN member states have already recognised the state of Palestine, including EU countries Spain and Ireland. The coalition has pledged to reverse Australia's position if it wins the next election.
The Advertiser
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Israel moves to 'bury' idea of Palestinian state
Israel's far-right's finance minister has announced will would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said will "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian government, allies and campaign groups condemned the scheme, calling it illegal and saying the fragmentation of territory would rip up any internationally backed peace plans for the region. Standing at the site of the planned settlement in Maale Adumim on Thursday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had agreed to the revival of the E1 development, though there was no immediate confirmation from either. "Whoever in the world is trying to recognise a Palestinian state today will receive our answer on the ground. Not with documents nor with decisions or statements, but with facts. Facts of houses, facts of neighbourhoods," Smotrich said. Israel froze construction plans at Maale Adumim in 2012, and again after a revival in 2020, because of objections from the US, European allies and other powers who considered the project a threat to any future peace deal with the Palestinians. The move could further isolate Israel, which has watched some of its Western allies condemn its military offensive in Gaza and announce they will recognise a Palestinian state. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. In a statement headlined "Burying the idea of a Palestinian state," Smotrich's spokesperson said the minister had approved the plan to build 3401 houses for Israeli settlers between an existing settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Maale Adumim, Smotrich told Reuters the plan would go into effect on Wednesday, without specifying what would happen on that day. Breaking the Silence, an Israeli rights group established by former Israeli soldiers, criticised Smotrich, accusing him of encouraging West Bank settlement activity while the world's attention was on the Gaza war. "This land grab and settlement expansion will not only further fragment the Palestinian territory, but will further entrench apartheid," it said. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian president's spokesperson, called on the United States to pressure Israel to stop settlement building. Qatar, which has mediated between Hamas and Israel in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, condemned Smotrich's actions as a "blatant violation of international law". Palestinians were already demoralised by the Israeli military campaign which has killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities, and fear Israel will ultimately push them out of that territory. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. The two-state plan envisages a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, existing side by side with Israel. Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions in June on Smotrich and another far-right minister who advocates for settlement expansion, accusing both of them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel's far-right's finance minister has announced will would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said will "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian government, allies and campaign groups condemned the scheme, calling it illegal and saying the fragmentation of territory would rip up any internationally backed peace plans for the region. Standing at the site of the planned settlement in Maale Adumim on Thursday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had agreed to the revival of the E1 development, though there was no immediate confirmation from either. "Whoever in the world is trying to recognise a Palestinian state today will receive our answer on the ground. Not with documents nor with decisions or statements, but with facts. Facts of houses, facts of neighbourhoods," Smotrich said. Israel froze construction plans at Maale Adumim in 2012, and again after a revival in 2020, because of objections from the US, European allies and other powers who considered the project a threat to any future peace deal with the Palestinians. The move could further isolate Israel, which has watched some of its Western allies condemn its military offensive in Gaza and announce they will recognise a Palestinian state. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. In a statement headlined "Burying the idea of a Palestinian state," Smotrich's spokesperson said the minister had approved the plan to build 3401 houses for Israeli settlers between an existing settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Maale Adumim, Smotrich told Reuters the plan would go into effect on Wednesday, without specifying what would happen on that day. Breaking the Silence, an Israeli rights group established by former Israeli soldiers, criticised Smotrich, accusing him of encouraging West Bank settlement activity while the world's attention was on the Gaza war. "This land grab and settlement expansion will not only further fragment the Palestinian territory, but will further entrench apartheid," it said. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian president's spokesperson, called on the United States to pressure Israel to stop settlement building. Qatar, which has mediated between Hamas and Israel in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, condemned Smotrich's actions as a "blatant violation of international law". Palestinians were already demoralised by the Israeli military campaign which has killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities, and fear Israel will ultimately push them out of that territory. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. The two-state plan envisages a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, existing side by side with Israel. Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions in June on Smotrich and another far-right minister who advocates for settlement expansion, accusing both of them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel's far-right's finance minister has announced will would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said will "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian government, allies and campaign groups condemned the scheme, calling it illegal and saying the fragmentation of territory would rip up any internationally backed peace plans for the region. Standing at the site of the planned settlement in Maale Adumim on Thursday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had agreed to the revival of the E1 development, though there was no immediate confirmation from either. "Whoever in the world is trying to recognise a Palestinian state today will receive our answer on the ground. Not with documents nor with decisions or statements, but with facts. Facts of houses, facts of neighbourhoods," Smotrich said. Israel froze construction plans at Maale Adumim in 2012, and again after a revival in 2020, because of objections from the US, European allies and other powers who considered the project a threat to any future peace deal with the Palestinians. The move could further isolate Israel, which has watched some of its Western allies condemn its military offensive in Gaza and announce they will recognise a Palestinian state. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. In a statement headlined "Burying the idea of a Palestinian state," Smotrich's spokesperson said the minister had approved the plan to build 3401 houses for Israeli settlers between an existing settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Maale Adumim, Smotrich told Reuters the plan would go into effect on Wednesday, without specifying what would happen on that day. Breaking the Silence, an Israeli rights group established by former Israeli soldiers, criticised Smotrich, accusing him of encouraging West Bank settlement activity while the world's attention was on the Gaza war. "This land grab and settlement expansion will not only further fragment the Palestinian territory, but will further entrench apartheid," it said. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian president's spokesperson, called on the United States to pressure Israel to stop settlement building. Qatar, which has mediated between Hamas and Israel in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, condemned Smotrich's actions as a "blatant violation of international law". Palestinians were already demoralised by the Israeli military campaign which has killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities, and fear Israel will ultimately push them out of that territory. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. The two-state plan envisages a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, existing side by side with Israel. Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions in June on Smotrich and another far-right minister who advocates for settlement expansion, accusing both of them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel's far-right's finance minister has announced will would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said will "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian government, allies and campaign groups condemned the scheme, calling it illegal and saying the fragmentation of territory would rip up any internationally backed peace plans for the region. Standing at the site of the planned settlement in Maale Adumim on Thursday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had agreed to the revival of the E1 development, though there was no immediate confirmation from either. "Whoever in the world is trying to recognise a Palestinian state today will receive our answer on the ground. Not with documents nor with decisions or statements, but with facts. Facts of houses, facts of neighbourhoods," Smotrich said. Israel froze construction plans at Maale Adumim in 2012, and again after a revival in 2020, because of objections from the US, European allies and other powers who considered the project a threat to any future peace deal with the Palestinians. The move could further isolate Israel, which has watched some of its Western allies condemn its military offensive in Gaza and announce they will recognise a Palestinian state. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. In a statement headlined "Burying the idea of a Palestinian state," Smotrich's spokesperson said the minister had approved the plan to build 3401 houses for Israeli settlers between an existing settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Maale Adumim, Smotrich told Reuters the plan would go into effect on Wednesday, without specifying what would happen on that day. Breaking the Silence, an Israeli rights group established by former Israeli soldiers, criticised Smotrich, accusing him of encouraging West Bank settlement activity while the world's attention was on the Gaza war. "This land grab and settlement expansion will not only further fragment the Palestinian territory, but will further entrench apartheid," it said. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian president's spokesperson, called on the United States to pressure Israel to stop settlement building. Qatar, which has mediated between Hamas and Israel in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, condemned Smotrich's actions as a "blatant violation of international law". Palestinians were already demoralised by the Israeli military campaign which has killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities, and fear Israel will ultimately push them out of that territory. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. The two-state plan envisages a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, existing side by side with Israel. Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions in June on Smotrich and another far-right minister who advocates for settlement expansion, accusing both of them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
