Smotrich defies impending British sanctions: We will respond with settlement expansion

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Tuesday evening that he will respond to anticipated British sanctions against him with settlement activity.

Smotrich wrote on Twitter: "I was sitting at the inauguration ceremony of the new settlement we approved, Mitzpe Ziv, in Hebron (southern occupied West Bank)."

He continued: "While I was sitting there, I heard that Britain had decided to impose sanctions on me for obstructing the establishment of a Palestinian state."

Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, added: "Britain previously tried to prevent us from settling" what he claimed was "the cradle of our homeland."

He added, "We will not allow it to do so again. We are determined to continue building," meaning illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

On Tuesday, the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz reported that Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway are expected to impose sanctions on Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir later today.

She added, "According to a report published by The Times, the British sanctions will include freezing the two ministers' assets, banning them from entering the United Kingdom, and prohibiting British financial institutions from establishing relations with them."

According to The Times, the reason for the expected sanctions is their statements calling for the extermination of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and displacement, ignoring international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.

The genocide left approximately 182,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, and famine claimed the lives of many, including children.

Since the start of the genocide, the two ministers have repeatedly called for the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, the expulsion of Palestinian citizens from it, the establishment of settlements on their land, and the prevention of the entry of humanitarian relief aid.

The United Nations considers settlements in the occupied territories "illegal," asserting that they undermine the possibility of resolving the conflict according to the principle of a two-state solution (Palestinian and Israeli). For decades, it has called on Israel to halt them, to no avail.

Criticizing the expected sanctions, Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, said on Tuesday: "We have overcome Pharaoh, and we will also overcome (British Prime Minister Keir) Starmer's wall."

He added, "I will continue to work for the State and people of Israel without fear or intimidation," he said.

In turn, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said at a press conference: "We have been informed of the United Kingdom's decision to place two of our ministers on the British sanctions list."

He considered it "shameful that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to such measures," he claimed.

He continued: "I discussed the matter with Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu, and we will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision."

Recently, countries and organizations have begun to consider and take action against Israel due to the continuation of the genocide against the Palestinians for the twentieth consecutive month.

On May 20, Britain decided to suspend negotiations for a free trade agreement with Israel, potentially having "serious" economic repercussions, according to the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

On the same day, French Prime Minister François Bayrou announced that France, Britain, and Canada had jointly decided to oppose what was happening in Gaza and that they intended to recognize a Palestinian state.

At the end of the same month, European Union foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas announced that the EU would review its partnership agreement with Israel in light of the "catastrophic situation" in Gaza.

For 18 years, Israel has been besieging Gaza, leaving approximately 1.5 million Palestinians out of a population of approximately 2.4 million in the Strip homeless after their homes were destroyed in the war of extermination.

Israel has occupied Palestine and territories in Syria and Lebanon for decades, and refuses to withdraw from these areas and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, along the pre-1967 borders.