West Bank & Jerusalem
Australia plans targeted sanctions on Israeli settlers, spurns broad trade ban
Image credit: The Guardian
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Australia will pursue new targeted sanctions against Israeli settlers but will not join the United Kingdom, France, and Canada in imposing a blanket trade prohibition on Israel, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said. Wong expressed reservations about the scope of a comprehensive ban, signaling the government's preference for measures directed at specific individuals or entities involved in settlement activity in the occupied territories.
The Australian position reflects a middle ground in international responses to Israeli settlements. While some nations have moved toward sweeping economic restrictions, Wong indicated Canberra will concentrate on identifying and penalizing particular settlers or organizations deemed responsible for settlement expansion. She did not specify which entities would face the new measures under consideration by the government.
