The sanctioning of two Israeli ministers signals Australia will be more assertive in pushing for a two-state solution in the Middle East, an expert says.
The federal government applied sanctions against Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a co-ordinated move with allies Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.
The sanctions were applied for “extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights”, with the pair barred from travelling to Australia and any assets in the country being frozen.
The measures prompted condemnation from the US with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying it would do little to achieve a ceasefire in the conflict.
But Middle East politics professor at Deakin University Shahram Akbarzadeh said the sanctions were a consequential step.
“It is significant and it sends a signal that Australia is becoming more resolute in pursuing its foreign policy agenda of a two-state solution,” he told AAP.
“Australia would not have done this on its own, but when Australia sees other allied countries taking this move, that allows Australia to feel comfortable in numbers.”
Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said the sanctions were concerning and unacceptable.
“These ministers are part of a government that operates under the principle of collective responsibility, making such measures unreasonable,” he said in a statement.
“The Israeli government will convene early next week to consider and determine our official response to these actions.”
Prof Akbarzadeh said the sanctions imposed by the western allies would not alter how Israel would conduct itself in the conflict.
“Israel has shown it does not take international opinion seriously, and this move is unlikely to deter the Israeli government in the way they’re prosecuting the war in Gaza,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doubled down on the need for the sanctions, despite the reaction from Israel and the US.
“Sometimes friends have to be clear with each other,” he told reporters in Sydney.
“We support Israel’s right to live and to exist in secure borders, but we also support the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians.”
Israel’s violence in Gaza restarted after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation, invaded the nation and killed about 1200 people and abducted 250 others on October 7, 2023.
Israel’s bombardment, aid blockages and military action in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people and left many more on the brink of starvation.
Australia in July also sanctioned Israelis involved in attacking and killing Palestinians in the West Bank.
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