What's happened
The UK government is reviewing sanctions against Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir due to their extremist actions and rhetoric. This follows recent sanctions imposed on Israeli settlers in the West Bank, amid escalating humanitarian concerns in Gaza. Former Foreign Secretary David Cameron has urged the current government to take decisive action.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Politico, the UK government is actively reviewing sanctions against Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy stating, "If we have to act, we will act." The Independent highlights that these discussions follow the imposition of sanctions on Israeli settlers, emphasizing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Former Foreign Secretary David Cameron criticized the Labour government's partial arms sales ban, arguing that sanctions would send a strong message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu about unacceptable behavior from his ministers. The Guardian notes that Cameron's remarks are likely to increase pressure on the current government to adopt a firmer stance against extremist rhetoric and actions from Israeli officials.
How we got here
The UK has faced increasing pressure to address human rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza. Recent comments by Israeli ministers have raised alarms, prompting discussions about sanctions. The Labour government has previously suspended some arms sales to Israel, citing risks of violations of international law.
Common question
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What Sanctions is the UK Considering Against Israeli Ministers?
The UK government is currently reviewing potential sanctions against Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir due to their extremist actions and rhetoric. This move comes amid growing humanitarian concerns in Gaza and follows recent sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank. As the situation evolves, many are left wondering about the implications of these sanctions for UK-Israel relations and the broader geopolitical landscape.
More on these topics
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Itamar Ben-Gvir is an Israeli lawyer, and a leader in the Israeli far-right Otzma Yehudit party. He is known for defending Jewish radicals on trial in Israel. He has called for the expulsion of Arab citizens of Israel who are not loyal to Israel.
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Bezalel Yoel Smotrich is an Israeli politician. The leader of Tkuma, he is currently a member of the Knesset for the Yamina alliance.
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Gaza may refer to:
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David William Donald Cameron is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. He was the Member of Parliament for Witney from 2001 to 2016 and leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016.
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David Lindon Lammy PC FRSA is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament for Tottenham since 2000, and has served as Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor in Keir Starmer's Shadow Cabinet since 2020.
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The West Bank is a landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, bordered by Jordan to the east and by Israel to the south, west and north. The West Bank also contains a significant section of the western Dead Sea shore.
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.