Nations condemn attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, calling settlement policies unacceptable to those committed to a two-state solution

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a former settlement activist, waits before a press conference near the Maale Adumim settlement on the E1 land corridor outside Jerusalem in the West Bank in August last year. [AFP]
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a former settlement activist, waits before a press conference near the Maale Adumim settlement on the E1 land corridor outside Jerusalem in the West Bank in August last year. [AFP]

France, Britain, Canada and other countries banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — a former settlement activist — and others from entry on June 9, citing violence carried out by Israelis against Palestinians in the West Bank.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the move in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying France was imposing "new sanctions on those responsible for promoting colonization and violence in the West Bank." Australia, New Zealand and Norway also joined the measures.

Barrot added that the ban covered not only Smotrich but also four leaders of Israeli settler organizations and 21 violent settlers.

Barrot criticized Smotrich for "actively pursuing the annexation of the West Bank, supporting the construction of new settlements there and the resettlement of Gaza, and in effect tolerating the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority and the negative consequences that would bring for the Palestinian people." He called these policies "unacceptable to the overwhelming majority of the international community, which is firmly committed to a two-state solution."

In a joint statement, Barrot and the other ministers joining the sanctions said "violent extremist settlers, backed by their supporters, continue to attack Palestinians and violate their rights." They urged the Israeli government to "ensure rapid and thorough investigations into all attacks and take action against organizations that promote violence."

Violence involving Israeli settlers in the West Bank has persisted since the Gaza war broke out in October 2023. The international community considers the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank illegal.

The EU imposed sanctions on three extremist Israeli settler activists and four organizations in late May but excluded far-right Israeli cabinet members including Smotrich. Smotrich founded one of the organizations the EU sanctioned.

Separately, the British government on June 9 strongly urged British businesses and citizens to refrain from financial activities in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Parliament she had "strengthened guidance on risk management for our businesses with unambiguous clarity," adding that "no British national or company should be conducting any economic or financial activity within illegal Israeli settlements."

"We believe that violent settler organizations should not profit from land taken from Palestinians," Cooper said.

Earlier, 137 lawmakers from the ruling Labour Party had written to Cooper calling for action on the expansion of Israeli settlements.


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