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UK, allies sanction 2 far-right Israeli ministers: Who are Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich?

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have been sanctioned by the United Kingdom and four other Western allies for repeatedly 'inciting violence against Palestinians' in the West Bank. The two ultranationalist settler leaders are crucial for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remain in power. But who are they? read more Israeli right-wing Knesset member Itamar ben Gvir (L) and Bezalel Smotrich (R) during the swearing-in ceremony for the new Israeli parliament the 25th Knesset in Jerusalem, 15 November 2022. File Photo/Reuters The United Kingdom and four other allies have announced sanctions on two far-right Israeli Cabinet ministers, who are crucial to the survival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fragile coalition. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have been sanctioned for repeatedly 'inciting violence against Palestinians' in the West Bank. The sanctions against these two Israeli ministers have been jointly imposed by the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, as per a statement by the five countries' foreign ministers on Tuesday (June 10). Israel has called the move 'outrageous' and will hold a Cabinet meet next week to respond to this 'unacceptable decision'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But who are these Israeli ministers facing Western sanctions? We will take a look. UK, allies sanction 2 Israeli ministers The UK has banned Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country and frozen any assets they have in Britain. 'We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution which 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,' a joint statement by the five countries said. It further stated that the two Israeli ministers 'have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. 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 statement added. The sanctions by the five Western nations are a break from the position of United States – Israel's closest ally. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the joint action, writing on X: 'These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war'. He called on the five Western nations to withdraw the sanctions, adding that the US 'stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.' Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have faced criticism for their hardline stance on Israel's war in Gaza. They are against allowing any aid into the Strip and have promoted resettling Palestinians outside the narrow territory. The Western countries' joint statement also mentioned, 'of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza. We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reacting to the move, Ben Gvir said that 'the sanctions do not scare me,' adding, 'I will continue to act for our country, for our people, I will continue to act and make sure that they do not let humanitarian aid into Hamas.' Smotrich, speaking at the inauguration of a new settlement in the West Bank, expressed 'contempt' for the UK's move. 'Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we cannot do it again,' he was quoted as saying by BBC. 'We are determined, God willing, to continue building.' Smotrich was referring to the period when Britain governed Palestine and restricted Jews' immigration, particularly from the late 1930s to the late 1940s. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the government will hold a 'special meeting' early next week 'to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision.' 'It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to this kind of measure,' Saar added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who is Itamar Ben-Gvir? Itamar Ben-Gvir , the leader of Israel's far-right Jewish Power party, quit the Netanyahu government in January to oppose the ceasefire in Gaza. By March, he was back as a Cabinet minister after Israel resumed its war. The national security minister's party holds six seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Smotrich's Religious Zionism party has seven seats in the Israeli Parliament. In 2022, the two parties helped prop up Netanyahu to power, with his Likud party forming the most rightwing government in Israel's history. Ben-Gvir was awarded the security portfolio when he joined the Netanyahu government. In this role, he has encouraged police to take a tough stance against anti-government protesters. Born in 1976 in a small town outside Jerusalem, Ben-Gvir became a far-right activist during school. As a teen, his extremist views led to the army banning him from compulsory military service. Ben-Gvir gained limelight in his youth when he broke a bonnet ornament off then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's car in 1995. 'We got to his car. We'll get to him, too,' he said. A follower of the late racist rabbi Meir Kahane, Ben-Gvir admitted plotting protests, which included death threats, that forced Irish singer Sinead O'Connor to cancel a concert for peace in Jerusalem, as per an Associated Press (AP) report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The controversial minister has been convicted eight times for various offences, including racism and supporting a terrorist organisation. Despite his run-ins with the law, Ben-Gvir went on to become a lawyer and has represented Jewish Israelis charged with terrorism-related crimes. The ultranationalist lives in a settlement in the West Bank. Ben-Gvir's visits to Jerusalem's most contested holy site — the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which Jews revere as Temple Mount — have sparked controversies. The Israeli minister has supported distributing handguns to Jewish citizens and advocated open firing on Palestinian stone-throwers. His entry into mainstream politics signalled a rightward shift in the Israeli electorate. He won his first parliamentary seat in 2021. After the 2022 elections, Ben-Gvir and his far-right allies helped bring Netanyahu to power. 'Over the last year I've been on a mission to save Israel,' he told reporters ahead of the election at the time. 'Millions of citizens are waiting for a real right-wing government. The time has come to give them one.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who is Bezalel Smotrich? Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is the head of the Religious Zionist Party. He was born in the occupied Golan Heights in 1980 and currently lives in the occupied West Bank. A religious fundamentalist, he has repeatedly called for Israeli settlers to return to Gaza. Smotrich has a significant influence over Netanyahu and has the power to bring down his government. The Israeli minister, who studied at a small religious school in Beit El, near Ramallah, believes that Jews have a divine right to the entire land that constituted biblical Israel. In May, Smotrich said that for him, the victory in Gaza would be that the territory is 'destroyed' and civilians are shifted to a 'humanitarian zone' in the south of the strip or leave for third countries. He was first elected to the Knesset in 2015. Two years later, Smotrich, a lawyer, wrote a manifesto titled Israel's Decisive Plan to solve the Palestinian question. He gave three options to Palestinians in the West Bank and Israel's Arab citizens: leave with financial aid, live without the right to vote, or fight and die. 'My long-term desire is for the state of Israel to be governed according to the Torah or Jewish holy scripture,' he once told Israeli radio. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Itamar Ben-Gvir (L) and Bezalel Smotrich (R) are facing sanctions from five Western countries. File Photo/Reuters Smotrich was a co-founder of Regavim, an NGO fighting to limit Palestinian construction in both the West Bank and Israel. He is a self-declared homophobe. 'I am a homophobic fascist, but I am a man of my word,' the finance minister once said about himself in a private conversation. In 2005, Smotrich was arrested by Shin Bet security services and questioned over his role in protests against Israel's plans to withdraw from Gaza. He was suspected of having bought hundreds of litres of gasoline to blow up a major highway, as per a Le Monde report. He denies the charges. Smotrich has promoted segregating maternity wards, separating Jewish and Arab mothers. 'It is only natural that my wife does not want to be in a bed next to a woman who has just given birth to a child who might want to murder [our] baby in 20 years,' he said in 2016. The ultranationalist religious Zionist once described Netanyahu as 'a liar, the son of a liar.' But there was no love lost. He also frequently threatens to collapse Netanyahu's coalition if the war in Gaza stops. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies