We welcome the government’s decision to impose sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. LFI has consistently supported action against violent extremists in the West Bank, as well as action to rein in illegal settlement outposts. We also opposed the presence of these far-right ministers in the current government, recognising that their agenda is antithetical to the values of equality and democracy set out in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
By their words and deeds, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s actions in government have given succour to those who perpetrate disgraceful and utterly unacceptable violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. They have also harmed Israel’s security and the effort to free the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for over 600 days.
We call upon the government to marginalise the enemies of peace in both Israel and among the Palestinians. In this spirit, we also urge it to impose sanctions on those Palestinians in the West Bank who incite violence, glorify terrorism and thus, like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, have prolonged the tragic conflict between Israel and the Palestinians for far too long.
