Australia imposes sanctions on Israeli settlers in West Bank

Canberra: The Australian government on Tuesday imposed sanctions on three Israeli individuals and four entities in response to escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Announcing the sanctions in a statement, Penny Wong, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank undermines Israel’s security and its standing in the world.

According to Wong, the individuals and entities will be subjected to financial sanctions, making it illegal for Australians to give them money or assets, and the individuals will be banned from entering Australia, reports Xinhua news agency.

“For the first time, designated entities now include farming outposts that serve as hubs for settler violence,” Wong said.

“Settler violence is used to displace Palestinians and perpetuate the settlement enterprise, through destruction of property, displacement of families, beatings, sexual assault, and torture, resulting in serious injuries and deaths,” she added.

Wong said that Australia coordinated with partners, including New Zealand, in imposing the sanctions and that the measures reflect Australia’s commitment to the security and future of Israel and Palestine.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in May joined the leaders of Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands and New Zealand to call for an end to escalating Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank.

In a joint statement published by the British Prime Minister’s Office, the leaders said the situation in the West Bank had “deteriorated significantly,” with settler violence at “unprecedented levels.”

They said Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, adding that construction in the E1 area would divide the West Bank in two and mark a serious breach of international law.

The leaders urged businesses not to bid for construction tenders for E1 or other settlement developments, citing legal and reputation risks.

The statement reaffirmed support for a negotiated two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security.

–IANS