‘Entirely unacceptable': Ambassador condemns Australian sanctions on senior Israeli ministers
Israel's ambassador has described Australian sanctions and travel bans against far-right Israeli ministers as 'entirely unacceptable', a move Foreign Minister Penny Wong said was a clear sign that the international community is increasingly frustrated with the Israeli war effort in Gaza.
Australia imposed Magnitsky-style sanctions on two senior Israeli ministers for their roles in serious human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, in a move that marked a significant escalation in Canberra's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Australia was joined by three of its Five Eyes security partners - Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. The US was not involved and criticised the sanctions. Norway, which has a long history of involvement in Middle Eastern diplomatic affairs, also signed up to the joint announcement.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have been subjected to targeted financial sanctions and travel bans, effective from Wednesday, June 11. The two hardline figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government are accused of inciting and supporting systemic violence against Palestinians and aggressively expanding illegal Israeli settlements.
'We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution… but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion,' the joint statement read. 'Ben-Gvir and 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.'
Wong on Wednesday said Australia had engaged the Israeli government on this issue extensively, 'yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity'.
'This is why we have taken this action now – to hold those responsible to account. The Israeli government must uphold its obligations under international law and we call on it to take meaningful action to end extremist, violent and expansionist rhetoric.'
The Israeli ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, reacted to the news by saying the Israeli government would meet early next week to determine how to respond.
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