Western Governments Sanction Judea and Samaria Residents and Bar Smotrich

Britain, Canada, France and Norway announced new coordinated sanctions Tuesday against Israeli citizens and organizations connected to Judea and Samaria, while France also barred Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country.

Israel rejected the move, saying the foreign governments were using claims of violence to advance a political position against Jewish communities in the Land of Israel. The Foreign Ministry said the sanctions targeted “Israeli citizens, entities, and a government minister” and were not a serious attempt to reduce violence.

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

The ministry said the real purpose of the sanctions was political. “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.”

The measures were announced in coordination with Australia and New Zealand, which had already taken related steps. The joint declaration was issued by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Norway and the United Kingdom, who said they had acted together against people they accused of attacking Palestinian civilians.

The ministers said they were prepared to escalate the pressure on Israel. “We remain ready to take further measures if the Israeli government does not act quickly to address the situation on the ground,” the statement said.

Britain said it sanctioned six entities and one individual, including The Farms Association, Ahavat Gilad, Ari Yshag, Artzenu, Shivat Zion Lerigvey Admata, Eyal Hari Yehuda and Itamar Yehuda Levi. British officials said the sanctions targeted networks they accused of financing, enabling and carrying out violence.

Canada announced its fifth round of sanctions, listing two individuals and five entities: Harel David Libi, Eliav Libi, Regavim, Coco’s Farm, Micha’s Farm, Libi Construction and Infrastructure Ltd., and Nachala. Canada said the measures bar Canadians from dealing with those listed and make the sanctioned individuals inadmissible to Canada.

France took a separate national step against Smotrich. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France had banned him from its territory, along with four leaders of settler organizations and 21 people he described as “violent settlers.”

Barrot accused Smotrich of promoting annexation and settlement expansion. “Bezalel Smotrich actively promotes the annexation of the West Bank, which he openly claims, the creation of new settlements in the West Bank, the recolonization of Gaza, the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority, and its deleterious consequences on the Palestinian population,” he said.

The U.K. also issued new business guidance warning British companies against activity connected to Israeli communities beyond the 1967 lines, while saying Britain continues to support trade with Israel inside those lines.

Israel accused the governments behind the sanctions of ignoring antisemitism at home while targeting Israelis. “What these governments have in common is their resounding failure to combat the antisemitism that is rampant in their own countries,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry also said the same governments had failed to confront Palestinian Authority payments to terrorists and anti-Israel incitement. “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.”