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Straits Times
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Dutch summon Israeli ambassador, impose travel ban on ministers
FILE PHOTO: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich walks to visit the Damascus Gate to Jerusalem's Old City, as Israelis mark Jerusalem Day, in Jerusalem May 26, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo AMSTERDAM - The Dutch government will summon Israel's ambassador to the Netherlands to denounce the "unbearable and indefensable" situation in Gaza and has imposed travel bans on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, it said in a letter published late on Monday. Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will no longer be allowed to enter the Netherlands, which accuses them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians and calling for an "ethnic cleansing" of the Gaza strip. The Dutch decision follows similar moves last month by Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. The government said it supported the EU's recommendation to curb Israeli access to its flagship research funding programme and said it would press for European trade sanctions if Israel was found to be in breach of its agreement with the European Union on increasing aid supplies. REUTERS
Yomiuri Shimbun
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Israeli Finance Minister Orders Cancellation of Waiver on Cooperation with Palestinian Banks
Reuters Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich walks to visit the Damascus Gate to Jerusalem's Old City, as Israelis mark Jerusalem Day, in Jerusalem May 26, 2025. June 10 (Reuters) – Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ordered on Tuesday the cancellation of a waiver on cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian banks, in a move that puts the Palestinian banking system at risk. Smotrich said the decision came against the 'delegitimization campaign' by the Palestinian Authority against Israel globally, according to a statement from his office. The waiver had allowed Israeli banks to process shekel payments for services and salaries tied to the Palestinian Authority, without the risk of being charged with money laundering and funding extremism. Without it, Palestinian banks would be cut off from the Israeli financial system. The decision comes as the Palestinian Authority continued to face mounting financial pressure from a slowdown in aid, a squeeze on a system of tax revenue transfers by Israel and a slump in contributions from Palestinians who have been shut out of the Israeli labour market by the war in Gaza. It comes hours after the United Kingdom and four other nations imposed on him and another far-right minister sanctions for inciting violence in the West Bank. The sanctions included a freeze on assets and travel bans.
Middle East Eye
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK and allies sanction Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich over 'monstrous' Gaza comments
The United Kingdom and several of its allies have sanctioned far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich over over their "monstrous" comments about Gaza. In a significant break from Washington, the UK is imposing asset freezes and travel bans on Israel's National Security Minister Ben Gvir - a West Bank settler - and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The two have fiercely opposed the entry of international aid into Gaza and advocated for the forced expulsion of Palestinians from the territory, with Ben Gvir has called for Israel to "encourage the voluntary emigration of the residents of Gaza". Meanwhile, Smotrich pledged last month that "Gaza will be entirely destroyed" and that Palestinians will "leave in great numbers to third countries." Speaking to the BBC, UK Foreign Secretery David Lammy said the ministers, along with the Israeli government had been repeatedly warned against "encouraging egregious abuses of human rights." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "Alongside our partners, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway today, we are announcing sanctions against those individuals, because we have been absolutely clear this has to stop. "We stand by a two state solution, and the violence that we've seen in the West Bank, particularly, is entirely unacceptable and must stop." Smotrich vows to 'rebuild temple' during Jerusalem Day celebrations Read More » Smotrich has long advocated for extending Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and across the Middle East as part of his vision of a 'Greater Israel'. He also declared that Israel would 'apply sovereignty' in the occupied West Bank before the next Israeli general elections in October 2026. 'Within a few months, we will be able to declare that we have won. Gaza will be totally destroyed,' Smotrich said. 'In another six months, Hamas won't exist as a functioning entity.' On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that Israel had been informed by the UK of its decision to impose sanctions on the two government ministers, describing the move as "outrageous". "We were informed about the UK decision to include two of our ministers on the British sanctions list," Saar told a press conference. "It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kinds of measures."
Toronto Sun
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway sanction 2 far-right Israeli Cabinet ministers
Published Jun 10, 2025 • 2 minute read Surrounded by security guards, Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, center, participates in march marking Jerusalem Day, an Israeli holiday celebrating the capture of east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, in Damascus Gate of Jerusalem's Old City, Monday, May 26, 2025. Photo by Leo Correa / AP JERUSALEM (AP) — Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway said Tuesday they have imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli government ministers for allegedly 'inciting extremist violence' against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich face asset freezes and travel bans from the five countries. The ministers are champions of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The decision by Western governments friendly to Israel was a sharp rebuke of Israel's settlement policies in the West Bank and of settler violence, which has spiked since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack ignited the war in the Gaza Strip. The five countries' foreign ministers said in a joint statement that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich '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.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Israel's Foreign Ministry said earlier it had been informed of the sanctions. Smotrich, the country's finance minister, wrote on social media that he found out that Britain had decided to sanction him for obstructing the viability of a Palestinian state. 'We are determined to continue building,' he said. 'We overcame Pharoah, we'll overcome Starmer's Wall.' Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, wrote on social media. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the move 'outrageous.' He said he had discussed it with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and they would meet next week to discuss Israel's response. The Biden administration took the rare step of sanctioning radical Israeli settlers implicated in violence in the occupied West Bank — sanctions that were then lifted by President Donald Trump. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Eitay Mack, an Israeli human rights lawyer who spent years campaigning for the sanctions on Smotrich and Ben-Gvir — along with violent West Bank settlers — described the move as 'historic.' 'It means the wall of immunity that Israeli politicians had has been broken,' he said. 'It's unbelievable that it took so long for Western governments to sanction Israeli politicians, and the fact that it's being done while Trump is president is quite amazing,' said Mack. 'It is a message to Netanyahu himself that he could be next.' Israel captured the West Bank along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want those territories for their hoped-for future state. Settlement growth and construction have been promoted by successive Israeli governments stretching back decades, but it has exploded under Netanyahu's far-right coalition, which has settlers in key Cabinet posts. There are now well over 100 settlements and 500,000 Israeli settlers sprawling across the territory from north to south — a reality, rights groups say, dimming any hopes for an eventual two-state solution. Toronto Blue Jays World Relationships Editorial Cartoons Olympics
Middle East Eye
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK and allies to sanction Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich
A number of countries including the UK are set to sanction far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich over their conduct during the war on Gaza. In a significant break from Washington, London will join Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other nations in imposing asset freezes and travel bans on Israel's National Security Minister Ben Gvir - a West Bank settler - and Finance Minister Smotrich. The two have fiercely opposed the entry of international aid into Gaza and advocated for the forced expulsion of Palestinians from the territory, with Smotrich pledging last month that 'Gaza will be entirely destroyed' and that Palestinians will 'leave in great numbers to third countries'. Meanwhile Ben Gvir has called for Israel to "encourage the voluntary emigration of the residents of Gaza". The announcement, reported in the Times, comes after UK Foreign Secretery David Lammy branded Smotrich's comments regarding the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza as "monstrous". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'We must call this what it is. It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.' Smotrich vows to 'rebuild temple' during Jerusalem Day celebrations Read More » Smotrich has long advocated for extending Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and across the Middle East as part of his vision of a 'Greater Israel'. He also declared that Israel would 'apply sovereignty' in the occupied West Bank before the next Israeli general elections in October 2026. 'Within a few months, we will be able to declare that we have won. Gaza will be totally destroyed,' Smotrich said. 'In another six months, Hamas won't exist as a functioning entity.' On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that Israel had been informed by the UK of its decision to impose sanctions on the two government ministers, describing the move as "outrageous". "We were informed about the UK decision to include two of our ministers on the British sanctions list," Saar told a press conference. "It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kinds of measures."
