U.S. Slams UK-Led Sanctions on Israeli Ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich Amid West Bank Tensions
Sanctions Spark New Tensions Between U.S. and Western Allies Over Israel
Talk about a deepening divide: the United States just slammed its key Western partners after they hit two top Israeli ministers—Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich—with harsh sanctions. The UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway announced the measures this week, freezing the officials’ assets and slapping travel bans on them. Their reason? They say Ben Gvir and Smotrich fueled extremist settler violence and trampled Palestinian rights in the already volatile West Bank.
The timing couldn’t be more heated. The UK-led group points directly at public statements and actions by Ben Gvir, Israel’s Security Minister, and Smotrich, who runs finance, blaming them for inspiring a tough line and encouraging clashes between settlers and Palestinians. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy publicly declared the sanctions aim to hold the men “responsible for egregious abuses”—underscoring what looks like a shift toward holding high-profile individuals accountable, even if they’re sitting ministers in Israel’s government.
For the other countries going along, the message is much the same. Each government emphasized that encouraging or downplaying settler violence can’t go unanswered. Their moves drew sharp pushback not just from Tel Aviv, but now from Washington too.
Washington Doubles Down on Israel, Calls Sanctions 'Unhelpful'
The Trump administration wasted no time firing back. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the sanctions “extremely unhelpful” and charged that the UK and partners are muddying U.S.-led ceasefire efforts in Gaza. Rubio insisted these measures drive a “wedge between Israel and the democratic world” at the worst possible moment. Instead of targeting Israeli politicians, the U.S. wants its allies to focus on bolstering humanitarian access into Israel and keeping the pressure on Hamas.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce sounded even more frustrated, saying these sanctions risk “isolating Israel internationally” and also dragging attention away from the root security issues—especially as Washington presses for an end to violence in Gaza. There’s a real fear inside the administration that allies are splintering right as the region tilts farther from stability.
The Israeli government, never one to mince words, lashed back. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the sanctions as “outrageous” and singled out the targeting of elected officials rather than following diplomatic channels. Israeli leaders are openly vowing a government-level response, making it clear this isn’t a minor disagreement among friends.
The UK and its partners say they’ve tried to make their intentions obvious: the restrictions only relate to Ben Gvir and Smotrich as individuals, not their entire ministries or Israel’s government apparatus. Even so, critics claim the ministers have long aligned with far-right ideologies, and reining them in is overdue.
What’s at stake in all this? The West’s fractured approach to a conflict that never seems to cool off. While the UK and friends want accountability for violence in the West Bank, the U.S. stays fixated on pushing for a Gaza ceasefire. This rift isn’t just about personalities—it’s about a growing divide on how to manage one of the world’s most entrenched conflicts.