Israel slams ‘disgraceful’ steps by Australia, Canada, France, Norway & UK against settler groups & FM Smotrich
Five nations decry 'deteriorating situation' in Judea and Samaria
The Israeli Foreign Ministry strongly protested against several measures targeting Israeli citizens and entities affiliated with the settlement movement that were announced by Australia, Canada, France, Norway, and the UK on Tuesday.
The five countries noted the “deteriorating situation” in Judea and Samaria and “horrific levels of settler violence” as the impetus for the new measures. Over the past months, there have been numerous violent incidents in the area, including clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, as well as attacks by radical groups of Israeli settlers against Palestinian villages and civilians.
“Israel firmly rejects the disgraceful measures adopted by foreign governments against Israeli citizens, entities, and a government minister,” the foreign ministry said.
The foreign ministers of the five countries, in their joint statement, vowed to “introduce sanctions and other measures to hold extremist settlers accountable for the horrific levels of settler violence against Palestinian civilians.”
They also alleged that “violence to displace Palestinians, destroy property and perpetuate the illegal settlement enterprise” has “sometimes” taken place “under the protection of Israel’s security forces.”
“We stand ready to take more action if the Government of Israel does not take urgent steps to address the situation on the ground,” the ministers warned.
In addition, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich would be banned from France, alongside “four leaders of settler organizations, and twenty-one violent settlers.”
Barrot gave as reasons for the highly unusual step that Smotrich “actively promotes the annexation of the West Bank… the creation of new settlements … the recolonization of Gaza, [and] the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority.”
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper explained that “Settler expansion and violence is illegal and a fundamental threat to the viability of a two-state solution, and to long-term peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.”
In its response, the Israeli foreign ministry charged that the “real essence of these steps is the attempt to impose a political stance regarding the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel and concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - camouflaged as measures against violence.”
It also noted that the five governments shared the “resounding failure to combat the antisemitism that is rampant in their own countries,” warning that its steps would “only serve to fuel that antisemitism.”
“Astonishingly, these governments have also failed to impose sanctions or take action against the phenomena that truly drive violence - the Palestinian Authority’s salaries for terrorists (‘pay-for-slay’) policy and incitement,” the statement concluded.
The latest round of sanctions against Israeli settler organizations and representatives came amid several incidents that have drawn international condemnation in recent days.
On Sunday, a 7-month-old Palestinian infant was killed by gunfire from an Israeli soldier in the city of Hebron, and both parents were moderately injured. The IDF has opened an investigation into the shooting.
A security source told Army Radio that the soldier was in Hebron as part of an operational activity when he identified a vehicle that he believed was accelerating toward him and opened fire, shooting two rounds at the car.
This followed another incident the day before, in the town of Huwara, a frequent flashpoint of clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in recent years.
According to Palestinian reports, nine people were wounded in an attack by masked settlers, with at least one IDF soldier taking part in the assault. Images showed masked men clad in black arriving at Huwara in pickup trucks.
Army Radio also noted that “residents of the Tzafnat Farm outpost, near Huwara, claimed that their flock of sheep had been stolen by Palestinians. Members of the farm went down to search for the flock in Huwara together with an IDF force from the Samaria Brigade, and clashes broke out in the village.”
“Six Palestinians were lightly injured during the clashes as a result of violence involving clubs and stones. Additional Jews from the Yitzhar area joined to assist… According to a security source, Israelis also set fire to Palestinian vehicles in the area.”
The IDF stated that it deployed troops after “a report of suspected theft of sheep belonging to Israeli civilians, in order to remove the Israeli civilians and the sheep from the village and prevent friction in the area.”
The IDF also confirmed that “several rioters arrived in the area of the village and violent clashes developed, including stone-throwing and the use of clubs between Israeli civilians and Palestinians.”
Regarding the soldier seen in the footage who took part in the violence, it said that his actions were “serious and inconsistent with the values of the IDF.”
“Once the soldier is identified, he will be subject to disciplinary proceedings, and appropriate command and disciplinary measures will be taken in accordance with the findings,” the army vowed, adding that the incident would be investigated further.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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