U.S. condemns Canada, four other nations over Israeli sanctions

The United States condemned Canada and four other countries on Tuesday for imposing sanctions on two Israeli cabinet ministers.

Canada joined the U.K., Norway, Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday in sanctioning Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of pushing "extremist rhetoric" by calling for the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the territory.

"Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," reads a joint statement issued by the five countries. "Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous. These actions are not acceptable."

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the United States condemned the sanctions and urged the countries to reverse. He said the sanctions do not advance the United States' efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the region, bring home hostages and end the war. The statement goes on to blame Hamas for disturbing the peace of Gaza civilians.

"We remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is. The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel," the statement read.

Israel's Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling a meeting early next week to decide on a response to the sanctions.

"It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures," Sa'ar said at a press conference.

The Canadian Press reached out to Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand for comment on Rubio's remarks but has not received a response.

Before Rubio's statement on Tuesday, Anand said that "extremist settler violence" threatens the long-term safety of both Israelis and Palestinians.

"It prolongs the existing conflict and it erodes the path to a two-state solution, which we see as the only path to sustainable peace and security, including for Israel," Anand said following the weekly Liberal cabinet meeting.

Asked about the prospect of further sanctions on Israeli government officials, Anand maintained that Canada's focus is on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.

"These two individuals promoted extremist settler violence and it has to stop. I will add, they are members of Netanyahu's government. They are not members of his party, but rather coalition partners from far-right parties," Anand said.

NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson said Canada should be sanctioning all senior members of Netanyahu's government. 

"Canada should respect international law and sanction Netanyahu and his cabinet immediately for their role in the genocide of Gaza. All Israeli officials who incite or are responsible for genocide should be sanctioned," McPherson said in a media statement. 

McPherson said the NDP has been calling for sanctions on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for 19 months.

The joint statement says that the countries tried to work with the Israeli government on the issue of forced Palestinian displacement but "violent perpetrators" continue to act with "encouragement and impunity."

The statement says that while the countries imposing sanctions still support Israel's right to defend itself, the actions of the "targeted individuals" undermine "Israel's own security and standing in the world."

"Today’s measures focus on the West Bank, but of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza," the statement says. "We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid."

The sanctioned individuals are inadmissible to Canada and Canadian individuals and organizations are barred from doing business with them.

Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in writing an open letter condemning Israeli military operations in Gaza. The three leaders called the level of suffering in the territory "intolerable."

The letter called on the Israeli government to allow more food aid into Gaza and to end military operations there, and for Hamas to release its remaining hostages. The three leaders said they would take "concrete actions" if Israel did not comply.

Carney, Starmer and Macron also threatened to impose sanctions on people and groups linked to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The U.K. imposed sanctions on what it called a "West Bank violence network" shortly after the letter was released publicly. 

Canada has imposed three previous rounds of sanctions on people and groups associated with expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The last round of sanctions was announced in February. 

Picture Courtesy: AP Photo/Leo Correa