Israel's Response to 'Unjust' Sanctions as Albanese Supports Recent Actions

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Following Australia’s sanctioning of two top Israeli government ministers, Israel’s government has indicated it will respond the following week.

This decision has been criticized by United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated that it does not “advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the decision was the result of “many months of coordination” with Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.

“These two ministers are the most extreme proponents of the unlawful and violent Israeli settlement enterprise,” she said.

“These countries are sending a message. You have ignored the international community, and we do not tolerate it,” Wong said.

Two politicians, dressed in suits, sit in chairs in front of a long wooden table.

Australia, along with Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Norway, has sanctioned Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Source: AP / Abir Sultan

The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) said the decision by five countries was a significant step and would send a clear message.

ACIJ’s Lara Khider said: “These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians.”

And the Greens’ foreign affairs spokesman David Shoebridge also welcomed the sanctions but said they came “extremely late”.

He said criticism from the US showed “how far our two countries’ values are diverging”.

Israel reacts: ‘Unacceptable decision’

Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government.

Responding to the announcement on social media, Ben-Gvir posted an AI-generated picture of London’s Big Ben under a Palestinian keffiyeh headgear.

“Continue putting your head in the sand,” he wrote.

The two ministers now have travel bans, along with financial sanctions that freeze their assets and prevent others from providing them with financial assistance.

A man in a tight crowd waves an arm in the air surrounded by police

In May, Itamar Ben-Gvir participated in the Israeli ‘Flag March’ in Jerusalem’s Old City. This event marks the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City after the 1967 Six-Day War. Source: EPA / ATEF SAFADI/EPA

In practice, the Magnitsky-style sanctions could result in persons assisting the two ministers facing up to ten years’ imprisonment and a fine of $825,000.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar called the sanctions “outrageous” and said his government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond to the “unacceptable decision” made by the five countries.

Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said it was an “entirely unacceptable” decision.

“These ministers are part of a government that operates under the principle of collective responsibility, making such measures unreasonable,” he said.

“Serious questions must be asked about the motives behind the timing of this announcement.”

Albanese says pushback is ‘predictable’

Wong did not confirm whether the US had been forewarned about the sanctions, simply stating the US and Australia “had engaged” overnight.

“In the history of our alliance, there are issues on which we have taken different approaches,” she said.

“And I would make the point that we are acting with others.”

Rubio urged the reversal of the sanctions and said the US stands “shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel”.

“We reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a terrorist organisation that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the response from the US and Israel as “predictable, frankly”.

“We’ve continued to declare that Israel has a right to live within secure borders. But we’ve also declared that Israel must comply with international concerns and international law, which is there,” he told ABC Sydney on Wednesday.

He later told reporters “Australia makes their own decisions” as he rejected concerns the decision could damage relations with the US.

Albanese said Australia supported both Israel’s “right to live and exist in secure borders” and “the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians”.

“Sometimes, friends have to be clear with each other,” Albanese said. “We’ve been clear with the Israeli Government about our concerns.”

The sanctions relate to the West Bank, but the joint statement also said: “This cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Source: AP / Ronen Zvulun

“The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel’s security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas,” the statement said.

“Today’s measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel’s own security and its standing in the world,” the statement said.

Coalition says implications could be serious

The Opposition said the Albanese government had seemingly lowered the threshold for imposing Magnitsky-style sanctions, which it said were for “human rights abuses and terrorist acts”.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Michaelia Cash called on the government to explain whether this “new approach” would be applied to officials from other countries.

“This may have serious implications for our international relationships,” she said.

“We are concerned that there is a pattern of decisions by the Albanese government targeting the Israeli government, rather than Hamas.”

Hamas is a listed terrorist organisation in Australia since 2022 and is subject to counter-terrorism financing sanctions.