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West Bank violence: Australia bans 2 Israeli ministers

West Bank violence: Australia bans 2 Israeli ministers

The Advertiser10-06-2025
Australia has issued travel bans and financial sanctions against two high-ranking Israeli government ministers after accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions in a joint statement alongside her counterparts representing the governments of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.
"(National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir and (Finance Minister) Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," the joint statement said.
"Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous.
"These actions are not acceptable."
Mr Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Mr Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.
Senator Wong said Australia "will continue to work with the Israeli government and a range of partners" to help establish peace in the region.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions "outrageous" and said his government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond to the "unacceptable decision" made by the five countries.
The sanctions relate to the West Bank but the joint statement on Wednesday morning also said "this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza".
"The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas," the joint statement said.
"Today's measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel's own security and its standing in the world."
Australia's sanctions against the ministers took effect just after midnight.
The Australian Centre for International Justice said the decision by five countries was a significant step and would send a clear message.
"These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians," the centre's Lara Khider said.
with Reuters
Australia has issued travel bans and financial sanctions against two high-ranking Israeli government ministers after accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions in a joint statement alongside her counterparts representing the governments of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.
"(National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir and (Finance Minister) Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," the joint statement said.
"Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous.
"These actions are not acceptable."
Mr Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Mr Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.
Senator Wong said Australia "will continue to work with the Israeli government and a range of partners" to help establish peace in the region.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions "outrageous" and said his government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond to the "unacceptable decision" made by the five countries.
The sanctions relate to the West Bank but the joint statement on Wednesday morning also said "this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza".
"The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas," the joint statement said.
"Today's measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel's own security and its standing in the world."
Australia's sanctions against the ministers took effect just after midnight.
The Australian Centre for International Justice said the decision by five countries was a significant step and would send a clear message.
"These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians," the centre's Lara Khider said.
with Reuters
Australia has issued travel bans and financial sanctions against two high-ranking Israeli government ministers after accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions in a joint statement alongside her counterparts representing the governments of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.
"(National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir and (Finance Minister) Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," the joint statement said.
"Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous.
"These actions are not acceptable."
Mr Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Mr Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.
Senator Wong said Australia "will continue to work with the Israeli government and a range of partners" to help establish peace in the region.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions "outrageous" and said his government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond to the "unacceptable decision" made by the five countries.
The sanctions relate to the West Bank but the joint statement on Wednesday morning also said "this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza".
"The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas," the joint statement said.
"Today's measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel's own security and its standing in the world."
Australia's sanctions against the ministers took effect just after midnight.
The Australian Centre for International Justice said the decision by five countries was a significant step and would send a clear message.
"These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians," the centre's Lara Khider said.
with Reuters
Australia has issued travel bans and financial sanctions against two high-ranking Israeli government ministers after accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions in a joint statement alongside her counterparts representing the governments of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.
"(National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir and (Finance Minister) Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," the joint statement said.
"Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous.
"These actions are not acceptable."
Mr Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Mr Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.
Senator Wong said Australia "will continue to work with the Israeli government and a range of partners" to help establish peace in the region.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions "outrageous" and said his government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond to the "unacceptable decision" made by the five countries.
The sanctions relate to the West Bank but the joint statement on Wednesday morning also said "this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza".
"The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas," the joint statement said.
"Today's measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel's own security and its standing in the world."
Australia's sanctions against the ministers took effect just after midnight.
The Australian Centre for International Justice said the decision by five countries was a significant step and would send a clear message.
"These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians," the centre's Lara Khider said.
with Reuters
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Donald Trump says Hamas don't want Gaza ceasefire and its leaders will be 'hunted down'

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The UK's Carrier Strike Group, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales, arrived in Darwin on Wednesday as Australia hosts Exercise Talisman Sabre. It's the first UK carrier strike group to visit Australia since 1997. The international task group includes five core ships, 24 jets and 17 helicopters, centred on the flagship aircraft carrier. Mr Lammy said the deployment of British troops to the region was a signal of its determination to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open. Mr Marles and Senator Wong will join their UK counterparts in Darwin on Sunday to observe the strike group in action.

‘Hunted down': Netanyahu, Trump appear to abandon Gaza talks
‘Hunted down': Netanyahu, Trump appear to abandon Gaza talks

AU Financial Review

time4 hours ago

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‘Hunted down': Netanyahu, Trump appear to abandon Gaza talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, both saying it had become clear that the Palestinian militants did not want a deal. Netanyahu said Israel was now considering 'alternative' options to achieve its goals of bringing its hostages home from Gaza and ending the rule of Hamas in the territory. Trump said he believed Hamas leaders would now be 'hunted down'. Reuters

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