-Analysis-
PARIS — For the first time, Western sanctions have been imposed on Israeli government ministers — as if they were low-class Russian oligarchs. This was inconceivable until recently, as Israel has long enjoyed an unspoken impunity in the West.
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On Tuesday, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway targeted Israel’s two most prominent far-right figures: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. They are accused of “inciting violence against Palestinians” by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. This violence has increased by 1,200% since Oct. 7, 2023: communities have been harassed and evicted, olive trees uprooted and cars set on fire.
These sanctions illustrate the brutal deterioration in relations between Israel and some of its partners. The way Israel is waging war in Gaza, the humanitarian blockade and the resumption in March of massive bombardments on the population, are provoking increasingly critical reactions.
Those who initially accepted Israel’s right to self-defense after October 7 now find the Netanyahu government’s violation of international humanitarian law indefensible.
A wake-up call
These sanctions should act as a wake-up call to Israeli society — a way to make it aware that this government’s radicalism is gradually isolating the country from some of its friends. The West has been accused by the Global South of practicing “double standards,” being firm with Russia while reacting timidly to the mistreatment of the Palestinians.
Although divided on the topic, the countries of the European Union will soon be considering a Commission report on the EU-Israel Association Treaty. The breach of human rights clauses is obvious; the consequences are less clear and do not meet with consensus among the 27 EU member states. The most outspoken countries could be forced to take unilateral measures.
In this context, the Israeli government is doubling down.
In this context, the Israeli government is doubling down. It must be said that it enjoys the support of the Trump administration on this front — which carries more weight than European objections.
Trump’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, known for his closeness to the Israeli settler movement, suggested Tuesday that if a Palestinian state were to be created, it could be in a Muslim country, not in the West Bank and Gaza. In other words, a population transfer — which constitutes a war crime.
Voices raised
Eight days before the conference in New York co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia — aimed precisely at advancing the two-state solution — the U.S. ambassador’s statement serves as a sharp reminder: Washington no longer supports this option, which the current Israeli government also rejects.
For now, these voices remain marginal and carry little weight.
Tuesday in Paris, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser al-Kidwa jointly voiced their support for a “two-state solution”. For now, these voices remain marginal and carry little weight — much like the sanctions against the two incendiary ministers.
But in the Palestinians’ desperate situation, they are at least a sign of life — and a break in the deafening silence surrounding a tragedy that has dragged on for too long.
