The sanctions against the Israeli ministers have been made under the under the autonomous sanctions regulations on human rights introduced in 2011.
Astatement on the Dfat website last nightsaid Penny Wong had imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on the Israeli ministers because of serious violations or serious abuses of human rights.
The regulations state that sanctions can be imposed if the foreign minister “is satisfied” that the person has engaged in, has been responsible for or has been complicit in a serious violation or serious abuse of a person’s right to life; or right not to be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or right not to be held in slavery or servitude or right not to be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
The minister canprevent a person from travellingto, entering or remaining in Australia if they satisfy those criteria.
The news about the sanctions against the Israeli ministers broke in reports after 11pm Australian time and was confirmed at midnight by a joint statement by the five countries.
Thejoint statement, issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that “settler violence is incited by extremist rhetoric” against the Palestinian community and “fundamentally rejects the two-state solution”. It said Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have incited “extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights” and these actions were “not acceptable”.
However, it goes on to note the ministers’ “unwavering support for Israel’s security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas”.
This is the full statement:
Australia has joined the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing financial sanctions and travel bans on two Israeli government ministers, over what foreign ministerPenny Wongdescribed as “inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”.
In an unexpected move, news of which broke overnight Australian time, the Albanese government joined several allies in levelling targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on Israeli national security ministerItamar Ben-Gvirand finance ministerBezalel Smotrich. The Magnitsky-style sanctions come over concerns from the five governments about serious human rights violations and abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The two ministers were sanctioned in relation to a range of public comments and actions, including marching through Jerusalem’s Muslim Quarter with a group that chanted “death to Arabs” and “may your village burn”.
Ben-Gvir last month said Israel would “occupy the entire territory of the Gaza Strip” and encourage migration of Gazans elsewhere, while Smotrich in February said: “‘With God’s help we will work to permanently bury the dangerous idea of a Palestinian State.”
The sanctions make it an offence to make assets available to a sanctioned person, require the freezing of any assets in Australia, and prevent them from entering Australia.
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’mMartin Farrerbringing you the best of the overnight stories beforeNick Vissertakes control.
Australia has joined the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing financial sanctions and travel bans on two Israeli government ministers, over what foreign ministerPenny Wongdescribed as “inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”. Wong is expected to tour the radio and TV studios this morning to explain the surprise move which was announced overnight in a joint statement with the other nations.
The ABC’s managing director,Hugh Marks, is expected to unveil his first tranche of changes at the public broadcaster on Wednesday morning, including a new round of redundancies and the axing of Q+A after 18 years. We will have more details and reaction.