The UK, Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and Norway announced the imposition of sanctions targeting six organizations linked to the settlement movement in Yehudah and Shomron, while France separately imposed sanctions on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

At the same time, the UK increased its financial support for the Palestinian Authority and updated its guidance to businesses, recommending that British companies avoid economic or financial activity in Israeli settlements.

The sanctions were imposed against six organizations that the governments claim are involved in financing, promoting, or carrying out violence against Palestinians in Yehuda and Shomron.

The organizations include the Yehuda and Shomron Farms Association, the Ahavat Gilad nonprofit, the Ari Yishag nonprofit, the Artzenu organization, the Shivat Tzion L’Regav Admatah nonprofit, and the Eyal Hari Yehuda company.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X: “Together with our British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and Norwegian partners, we are imposing new sanctions today on those responsible for the intensification of settlement activity and violence in the West Bank.”

“At the national level, we have barred Minister Betzalel Smotrich, four leaders of settler organizations, and twenty-one violent settlers from entering our territory.

“Betzalel Smotrich is actively promoting the annexation of the West Bank, which he openly advocates, the establishment of new settlements in the West Bank, the resettlement of Gaza, and the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority and its harmful consequences for the Palestinian population.

“This is a policy that the overwhelming majority of the international community cannot accept, as it remains firmly committed to a two-state solution.”

Israeli Foreign Minister slammed the “disgraceful” measures and berated the governments for their double standards.

“Israel firmly rejects the disgraceful measures adopted by foreign governments against Israeli citizens, entities, and a government minister,” he wrote.

“The real essence of these steps is the attempt to impose a political stance regarding the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel and concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, camouflaged as measures against violence.”

“What these governments have in common is their resounding failure to combat the antisemitism that is rampant in their own countries. Anti-Israeli policies of the kind adopted today only serve to fuel that antisemitism.”

“Astonishingly, these governments have also failed to impose sanctions or take action against the phenomena that truly drive violence – the Palestinian Authority’s salaries for terrorists (‘pay-for-slay’) policy and incitement.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)