Canada, alongside Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom, announced sanctions and other measures on Tuesday against two far-right Israeli Cabinet ministers, citing their role in inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The sanctions target Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security, and Bezalel Smotrich, the country’s Finance Minister. According to a joint statement from the five nations, both ministers have “incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.”
The statement condemned the ministers’ inflammatory rhetoric, particularly their advocacy for the forced displacement of Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements, calling such positions “appalling and dangerous.”
“Our governments have raised these concerns repeatedly with the Israeli leadership,” the statement noted. “Despite these efforts, violent actors continue to operate with encouragement and impunity.”
The move signals growing international frustration with far-right elements in Israel’s government and their impact on regional stability and human.