Australia is among a group of nations to have imposed sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
The pair are crucial powerbrokers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government — effectively ‘kingmakers’ after helping him form the government, and have repeatedly threatened to withdraw their support.
The duo have a history of making controversial remarks — something that was cited by UK Middle East minister Hamish Falconer after the sanctions were announced.
“Their own words condemn them,” he said.
“Mr Smotrich said there is no such thing as a Palestinian nation. Mr Ben Gvir has spoken of his rights in the West Bank, a territory his government is occupying, as more important than the rights of millions of Palestinians,” Falconer said.
Who is Itamar Ben-Gvir?
Ben-Gvir is Israel’s national security minister and lives in a West Bank settlement. His portfolio puts him in charge of the Israel Border Police in the occupied West Bank.
The 49-year-old entered parliament in 2022 and leads a far-right, anti-Arab party called Otzma Yehudit, or Jewish Power.
Itamar Ben-Gvir was given the security portfolio when he joined Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which includes the responsibility for the police force. Source: EPA / Atef Safadi
Ben-Gvir was convicted in 2007 of racist incitement and support for a group on both the Israeli and United States terrorism blacklists, according to Reuters.
As a teenager, he was not drafted for compulsory military service in the Israeli army because of his “extremist activities”, the Times of Israel reported.
He rose to prominence during his legal career for supporting activists suspected of terrorism and hate crimes.
“He is the go-to man when it comes to Jewish extremists facing legal proceedings,” the Jerusalem Post wrote in a 2022 list of influential Israelis.
Last year, Ben-Gvir called for the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem to be replaced with a synagogue. The compound is Islam’s third-holiest site and Judaism’s holiest place.
He has repeatedly drawn the ire of the US over his rejection of a political solution with the Palestinians and his support for Jewish settlers who attack Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to Reuters.
Who is Bezalel Smotrich?
Smotrich is Israel’s finance minister and also lives in a West Bank settlement. Settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
He leads the National Religious Party–Religious Zionism, which has 14 seats in the Knesset (Israeli parliament).
In a recording published in January 2023, Smotrich reportedly described himself as a “fascist homophobe”.
Bezalel Smotrich leads the Religious Zionism party, which has 14 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Source: AP / Ronen Zvulun
“I’m a fascist homophobe, but I’m a man of my word,” Smotrich was quoted as saying by Israeli news outlet Haaretz.
“I won’t stone gays, and you won’t feed me shrimp.”
In March 2023, he delivered a speech that sparked outrage, saying: “There is no such thing as a Palestinian nation. There is no Palestinian history. There is no Palestinian language.”
The remark came weeks after he apologised for saying the Palestinian town of Hawara in the West Bank should be “erased”.
Regarding Gaza, in April 2024, Smotrich said three Gaza cities would be under “total annihilation”.
“There are no half measures. Rafah, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat — total annihilation,” he said, according to Haaretz.
Last month, Smotrich said by the end of 2025, Gaza’s population would be “concentrated” in a narrow strip of land he described as a “humanitarian zone”, with the remainder of the enclave “totally destroyed”, according to the Times of Israel.
“They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.”
