Britain, Canada, France and Norway announced coordinated sanctions on Tuesday targeting Israeli individuals, organizations and financial networks accused of supporting, financing or
carrying out violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The move comes amid growing international concern over a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers, which several Western governments say is undermining prospects for a future Palestinian state.
The sanctions align with measures introduced last week by Australia and New Zealand, highlighting increasing frustration among Western allies with the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, particularly its expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Norway and Australia said the sanctions were intended to "hold extremist settlers accountable" for what they described as severe levels of violence against Palestinian civilians.
The ministers also called on Israel to take stronger action against perpetrators.
"We continue to urge the Government of Israel to take action to ensure meaningful accountability for violence in the West Bank," the statement said.
The West Bank, captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war, is home to hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers living alongside millions of Palestinians. Most countries and numerous United Nations bodies regard the settlements as illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes, citing historical and biblical connections to the territory.
Israel's Foreign Ministry condemned the sanctions, arguing they reflect political opposition to Jewish settlement in the region rather than a genuine effort to address violence.
"The real essence of these steps is the attempt to impose a political stance regarding the right of Jews to settle in the Land of Israel and concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, camouflaged as measures against violence," the ministry said in a statement.
Yisrael Ganz, chairman of the Yesha Council, which represents Jewish settlement authorities in the West Bank, also criticized the sanctions. He urged Israel's parliament to strengthen Israeli sovereignty in the territory and dismantle the Palestinian Authority.
While the Israeli government has acknowledged incidents of settler violence and occasionally condemned them, it has consistently opposed foreign sanctions against Israeli citizens and organizations, maintaining that Jews have the right to reside in the West Bank.
Different targets across countries
The latest sanctions packages vary by country and do not target an identical list of individuals or entities.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France had barred Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, four leaders of settler organizations and 21 settlers accused of violent activity from entering the country.
Britain's sanctions focus on financial networks that it says have enabled extremist settler groups to operate with impunity. The measures also target a construction company allegedly linked to the destruction of Palestinian property.
Canada imposed sanctions on a separate construction firm and its owners, while prohibiting Canadians from conducting business with those designated under the measures.
The five governments warned that additional action could follow unless Israel takes what they described as urgent steps to improve conditions and curb violence in the West Bank. Photo by Justin McIntosh, Wikimedia commons.
