Extracts: From: BBC June 11, 2025 US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also strongly criticised US allies for sanctioning two far-right Israeli ministers over "repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities" in the occupied West Bank.
he said: I have not yet heard a good reason for why these two elected ministers have been sanctioned by countries that ought to respect the country's sovereignty and recognise that they have not conducted any criminal activity,"
Who are Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, the Israeli ministers sanctioned by five western countries?
1. One was convicted of supporting a group on terrorism blacklists and now is in charge of the police force 2. The other reportedly described himself as a "fascist homophobe"
Both ministers were targeted and sanctioned, for "inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank" the joint statement with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom said
The pair are crucial powerbrokers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government — effectively 'kingmakers' after helping him form the government, and have repeatedly threatened to withdraw their support
The duo have a history of making controversial remarks — something that was cited by UK Middle East minister Hamish Falconer after the sanctions were announced. Falconer said,
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"Their own words condemn them"
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"Mr Smotrich said there is no such thing as a Palestinian nation"
Mr Ben Gvir has spoken of his rights in the West Bank, a territory his government is occupying, as more important than the rights of millions of Palestinians"
