Australia to sanction Israeli ministers

Australian Community Media

Foreign Minister Penny Wong renews Australia’s commitment to the two-state solution in Palestine and Israel as hostilities continue in Gaza.

Transcript

00:00As you know, the Albanese government has consistently advocated for a ceasefire for

00:04the release of hostages and the protection of civilians, the upholding of international

00:10law and the unhindered flow of aid.

00:13And we have also consistently advocated for a two-state solution.

00:18This is the only outcome which keeps faith with the imperative of the existence of Israel

00:23and its long-term security that fulfils also the world's promise to the Palestinian people

00:30and that enables two peoples to live in peace.

00:33It strengthens the force for peace and undermines extremism and it is the opposite of what Hamas

00:38wants.

00:40We know that Hamas can have no role in a future Palestinian state.

00:44We believe a two-state solution is the only way to end the cycle of violence and, regrettably,

00:50it is also clear that the Netanyahu government rejects it.

00:54This is clear from its devastating military campaign in Gaza, civilians being killed by

00:58the thousands, children starving.

01:02And it is also clear from policies including rampant settlement construction and impunity

01:09for settler violence in the West Bank.

01:12Like Israel's military expansion in Gaza, illegal settlements and impunity for settler violence

01:16in the West Bank are extinguishing the prospects of a two-state solution.

01:21Now I know that Australians feel frustrated.

01:24I know that people feel like we have little chance of moving the dial on our own, but this

01:28has never meant we can do nothing.

01:30What it does mean is we do what we can by working with partners and that is what we have done.

01:35We do the work of building coalitions with other countries because when Australia acts,

01:40we then act with impact.

01:44Together with our partners, Australia has opposed Israel's humanitarian blockade and expansion

01:48of military operations in Gaza.

01:51And together with our partners, we have opposed the expansion of settlements in the West Bank

01:54like those announced by the Netanyahu government just a couple of weeks ago.

01:59And together with our partners, we have imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers for their violence

02:03against Palestinians.

02:05So far, the Netanyahu government has ignored this international opposition.

02:11Now just as when we applied those sanctions previously, and just as when we applied sanctions

02:15against Hamas for their terrorism, Australia never speculates about possible future sanctions.

02:21We apply them without warning because that makes them harder to evade.

02:26And overnight we have done that.

02:29Australia has applied targeted financial sanctions and travel bans to two senior ministers in the

02:34Israeli government, ministers Ben-Gavir and Smotrich, for their role in serious human rights violations

02:42and abuses relating to Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.

02:47They are the most extreme proponents of the unlawful and violent settlement enterprise.

02:53And we have applied those measures with others.

02:55We have applied those measures in coordination with Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United

03:00Kingdom.

03:01This action is the result of many months of effort and coordination.

03:06And together, these countries are sending a message.

03:08You have ignored the international community and we do not tolerate it.

03:13The situation in the West Bank and the situation in Gaza are untenable both for civilians and long-term

03:19and peace in the form of a two-state solution.

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