UK, Canada, France, Norway, Australia, NZ sanction West Bank settler individuals, entities

The foreign ministers of all six countries jointly announced the move on Tuesday, Australia and New Zealand sanctioned many of those now sanctioned by the other states last week.

"For too long, violent settlers have acted with almost impunity while the expansion of settlements and the creation of outposts continue with the support and assistance of the Israeli government," said France's Jean-Noël Barrot.

He claimed that some settlers commit violence under the protection of Israeli security forces, and urged the Israeli government to "take steps to ensure that perpetrators of violence in the West Bank are truly held accountable."

The UK is specifically imposing sanctions on six entities and one individual involved in "financing, enabling and carrying out settler violence in the occupied West Bank" and Canada is listing two individuals and five entities.

Those designated individuals and entities will face asset freezes and possibly travel bans and Director Disqualifications.

For the first time, the UK Foreign Secretary has also announced that the UK’s official guidance explicitly advises businesses against economic and financial activity in illegal settlements.

The UK continues to support trade with Israel within 1967 lines, but states that there should be no economic involvement in illegal settlements.

"Today we are acting with our international partners to sanction those who support and sponsor violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank," said UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

"Settler expansion and violence are illegal and a fundamental threat to the viability of a two-state solution, and to long-term peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis."

Israel's foreign ministry said, "Israel firmly rejects the disgraceful measures adopted by foreign governments against Israeli citizens, entities, and a government minister."

"The real essence of these steps is the attempt to impose a political stance regarding the right of Jews to settle in the Land of Israel and concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - camouflaged as measures against violence."

"What these governments have in common is their resounding failure to combat the antisemitism that is rampant in their own countries. Anti-Israeli policies of the kind adopted today only serve to fuel that antisemitism."

The UK sanctioned six Israeli organizations and one Israeli citizen under the 2020 Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations, primarily for the resources and funds that they supposedly provided to West Bank outposts and farms, which were allegedly engaged in violence and the displacement of Palestinians. The organizations and individuals did not immediately respond to queries for comment.

The Farms Association, which, according to its website, was founded in 2024 to fundraise, coordinate security, and represent farm owners before state authorities, was subject to an asset freeze by the UK. The association was allegedly providing financial services, resources, and technologies to violent settler groups. Neria Ben Pazi, who was previously sanctioned by the UK in 2024 for constructing three West Bank outposts and participating in acts of violence, sits on the association board. Eliav Libi is also on the board. Libi is the director of Libi Construction and Infrastructure, which was sanctioned along with his own Harel Libi last May.

For allegedly serving as a financial conduit for the Farms Association, Ahavat Gilad was subject to an asset freeze and its director disqualified for directing or any promotion or management of a company in the UK. The destination for donations on the Farm Association's website is listed as Ahavat Gilad.

The Ari Yishag organization, which on its Facebook page professes to work to "strengthen the hills and outposts of the front, and raise awareness of the settlement of the Land of Israel," was punished with the same sanctions. It was accused of fundraising for outposts associated with acts of violence, according to the UK government.

Artzenu was subject to an asset freeze by the UK, as was its alleged fundraising body Shivat Zion Lerigvey Admata, which also had a director disqualification sanction leveled against it. Artzenu describes itself as a group of farmers and settlement activists founded in 2020 to entrench settlement activity across the country and improve economic and security conditions for farms. The UK alleged that it had financially backed farms and outposts associated with violence against Palestinians, including supplying tactical equipment for "armed settler squads."

Eyal Hari Yehuda construction company owner Itamar Yehuda Levi was slapped with a travel ban, and both he and his organization were sanctioned with asset freezes and director disqualification. Yehuda and the company were sanctioned for construction and demolition work in the West Bank, allegedly including the destruction of Palestinian property. The company's owners and staff were alleged by the UK to have shot and killed Palestinians.

Following suit with previous UK sanctions against Harel and Eliav Libi and their company, Canada sanctioned them on Tuesday along with Regavim, Coco’s Farm, Micha’s Farm, and Nachala.

The Regavim Movement focuses on preventing "illegal seizure of state land," and to protect the rule of law and clean government in matters pertaining to land-use policy in the State of Israel. Nachala organizes groups of young couples whose goal is to establish new communities in Judea and Samaria. The other two are farms in the West Bank which have been accused of engaging in violent actions against Palestinians.

"This round of sanctions lists two individuals and five entities for their role in directly or indirectly facilitating, supporting, providing funding for or contributing to the use or attempted use of violence by extremist settlers against Palestinian civilians or their property," said Global Affairs Canada. "Extremist settler violence is further destabilizing the West Bank, driving the forced displacement of Palestinian communities and undermining the viability of a two-state solution, as well as broader regional peace and security."

The sanctions were the fifth round of Canadian actions against Israelis allegedly involved in West Bank violence, with farmers Moshe Sharvit and Zvi Bar Yosef, and activists Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai sanctioned in 2024. Later that year, Canada sanctioned the farms associated with Sharvit and Bar Yosef, alongside anti-Arab assimilation group Lehava, radical outpost group Hilltop Youth, and settlement movement Amana. Nachala founder Daniella Weiss, Lehava director Ben-Zion Gopstein, Hilltop Youth leader Meir Mordechai Ettinger, and activists Einan Ben-Nir, Amram Tanjil, Elisha Yered, Ely Federman, and Shalom Zicherman were sanctioned in the same round.

Ben Pazi was sanctioned by Canada in the third round of sanctions, along with former Kach Party leader Noam Federman, activist Eden Levy, activist Shlomo Sarid, and the organizations Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich.

Last Tuesday, Australia sanctioned Gopstein, Levy, Sharvit, and farms and outposts associated with them. They also sanctioned the farms of Bar Yosef, Ben Pazi, and Levi, who were sanctioned in July 2024.

Itamar Yehuda Levi, Harel Libi, and Eliav Libi were banned from New Zealand last Monday, according to the New Zealand Herald.

Last June, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were sanctioned by Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Norway. France imposed a travel ban on the ministers in May.