The United Kingdom, Canada, and three other countries imposed new sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on June 10, in a move the U.S. State Department said would not help to resolve ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
In a Tuesday joint press statement, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway specifically accused Ben-Gvir and Smotrich of inciting violence against Palestinian communities, particularly in the West Bank.
The five countries raised concerns about the continuing expansion of Israeli settlements in the contested West Bank and about instances of Israeli settlers engaging in violent attacks….