U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sharply criticized the UK’s decision to impose sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers, calling the move counterproductive to peace efforts
in the region.
“These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to secure a ceasefire, bring hostages home, and end the war,” Rubio said on social media. “We remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is. The United States urges a reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.”
The UK, along with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, announced sanctions on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians. The sanctions target them personally, not their ministries.
A Downing Street spokesperson noted that the ministers' statements “do not even represent government policy,” as acknowledged by Israel’s ambassador to the UK.
The move comes as the UK also suspended free trade talks with Israel, signaling a growing policy divide between London and Washington over how to engage with Netanyahu’s government.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has condemned Israel’s actions in the West Bank as “monstrous,” urging Netanyahu to stop settler violence. In Parliament, Minister Hamish Falconer said the sanctions demonstrate that the UK “will not sit by” as peace prospects are undermined by extremist rhetoric and actions.
Israel’s government called the sanctions “outrageous.” Ben-Gvir responded defiantly: “We survived Pharaoh, we will also survive Keir Starmer.” Smotrich echoed the sentiment, saying, “We will not allow Britain to prevent us from building in our homeland.”
Critics of the Netanyahu government, including left-wing Israelis and Palestinian advocates, have urged stronger international pressure, especially as U.S. policy under President Donald Trump has shown less commitment to a two-state solution. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.