In short:
Seven Israelis and a religious youth group have been hit with financial sanctions and travel bans by Australia.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says those sanctioned have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians.
What’s next?
Senator Wong called on Israel to cease illegal settlement activity and hold perpetrators of violence to account.
Australia has imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on seven Israeli settlers and a religious group occupying parts of the West Bank.
This follows the International Court of Justice’s confirmation that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory were illegal under international law.
Israel’s government dismissed that finding as “blatantly one-sided” and not legally binding.
Following the United Nations’ court opinion, Australia has sanctioned seven settlers: Yinon Levi, Zvi Bar Yosef, Neria Ben Pazi, Elisha Yered, David Chai Chasdai, Einan Tanjil and Meir Ettinger, as well as religious group Hilltop Youth, which is dedicated to establishing settler outposts throughout the West Bank.
The sanctions are the first against Israelis over settlement activity in the West Bank.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said those sanctioned had been involved in grave violence against Palestinians.
“These individuals have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians including things such as beatings, sexual assault and torture resulting in serious injury and in some cases, death,” Senator Wong said.
“The entity sanctioned is a youth group that is responsible for inciting and perpetrating violence against Palestinian communities.”
Senator Wong told ABC’s AM program Australians should recognise the “weight” of the sanctions.
“Sanctions are a very substantial penalty that we have put in place,” she said.
She added the sanctions were in line with others imposed by other nations in recent months.
The Australian government called on Israel to hold perpetrators of settler violence to account and cease its ongoing settlement.
Senator Wong said those activities were inflaming tensions and undermining stability and prospects for a peaceful resolution with Palestinians.
“We have been very clear in terms of state-to-state relations [with Israel] about our view on settlements, we have said they are unlawful under international law … we have also said that we want to continue to take steps towards a two-state solution,” Senator Wong said.
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