Seven Israelis and a youth organisation have been subject to financial sanctions and travel bans by Australia, which the government claims are connected to violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. Penny Wong, the foreign minister, urged Israel's government to “recognise the importance of its standing and legitimacy in the international community,” citing the country's widespread support.
According to her, settlements in the occupied Palestinian lands are a "significant obstacle to peace in the Middle East" and are illegal under international law. Due to their " involvement in settler violence against Palestinians," Wong's office declared on Thursday morning that individuals and youth groups will be subject to Magnitsky-style sanctions.
“The individuals sanctioned today have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians. This includes beatings, sexual assault and torture of Palestinians resulting in serious injury and in some cases, death,” Wong said in the statement.
“The entity sanctioned is a youth group that is responsible for inciting and perpetrating violence against Palestinian communities.
“We call on Israel to hold perpetrators of settler violence to account and to cease its ongoing settlement activity, which only inflames tensions and further undermines stability and prospects for a two-state solution.”
A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Canberra said when asked for a response to the sanctions: “Israel condemns acts of violence against Palestinian communities. Israel is a state of law and will work to bring the extreme minority involved to justice.”
In a broad and stinging advisory opinion that declares occupation to be illegal, the UN's International Court of Justice this week ordered Israel to cease its occupation of Palestinian territory "as rapidly as possible" and provide full compensation for its "internationally wrongful acts."
According to Guardian Australia, the Australian government last week did not rule out imposing sanctions against settlers as it became more concerned about Israel's "troubling pattern" of behaviour.
The Foreign Affairs Minister may designate an individual or entity for financial sanctions and travel bans under Australia's Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 if the Minister is convinced that the individual or group has been involved in or complicit in serious violations of a person's right to life, right not to be subjected to torture, or right not to be subjected to degrading treatment, and right to be free from slavery, The Guardian reported.
The US, Canada, and the EU have already imposed similar penalties on a few of the people who were sanctioned on Thursday. Recognised as a religious youth organisation committed to founding settlement outposts across the West Bank, the sanctioned group is called Hilltop Youth.
In its sanctions against the group, the EU described it as “a radical group consisting of members known for violent acts against Palestinians and their villages in the West Bank”.
In her statement, Wong said Australia would “continue to work for a just and enduring peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Wong stated in an interview with ABC Radio National on Thursday that the Australian diplomats spoke about sanctions with their Israeli counterparts.
“These sanctions have been taken after careful consideration and are in line with actions taken by others in recent months,” she said.
When asked if Australia anticipated "pushback" from Israel on the move, Wong replied that it was an Israeli decision.
“Settlements are unlawful under international law,” she said. “We’re continuing to look to how we protect a pathway to a two-state solution. Part of that is to ensure we also impose penalties on those who perpetrate violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
“This is a state that has had a lot of support in the international community. Israel should recognise the importance of its standing and legitimacy in the international community.”
According to Wong, Australia will not be bringing back its ambassador and will instead keep up diplomatic relations with Israel, including pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza. She described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "catastrophic" and stated that Australia was "deeply worried" about it, particularly in light of the poliovirus found in wastewater.
“The fact that, in this century, we have traces of polio found in wastewater is extremely disturbing,” Wong said.