Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron has called on the Labour government to consider imposing sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, in response to their controversial actions and rhetoric. Cameron revealed that, before leaving office, he had been preparing sanctions against the ministers as a means of pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adhere to international law.
Speaking about his previous role as foreign secretary, Cameron explained that he had been “working up” sanctions targeting Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, and Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, who have been accused of promoting extremist views and actions, including encouraging settler violence in the West Bank and obstructing aid convoys to Gaza.
Cameron emphasised the importance of holding these ministers accountable without undermining Israel’s right to self-defence, stating that his intended message to Netanyahu was that such behaviour from his ministers was unacceptable. He urged the current Labour government to revisit the possibility of sanctions rather than considering suspending arms exports to Israel.
When asked why the sanctions did not materialise, Cameron cited political sensitivities during the election period as the reason for holding back. Meanwhile, Downing Street declined to comment on future sanctions, though it was noted that the UK has already sanctioned individuals responsible for settler violence in the West Bank.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman also refrained from commenting on potential sanctions but reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to addressing actions that undermine a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.