France bans Israeli settlers; critics say too little
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- United Kingdom announced coordinated sanctions on June 9 2026, targeting six entities and one individual as part of a joint effort with Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand and Norway.
- France banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, three settler group leaders and 21 settlers from entering the country.
- Jennifer Larbie of Christian Aid called the sanctions “derisory” and “too little, too late,” saying they aim to manage public anger rather than shift policy.
- Kristyan Benedict of Amnesty International UK warned that sanctioning settler financing while ignoring ministers like Smotrich and Itamar Ben‑Gvir leaves the architects untouched, urging sanctions on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
- UN inquiry found Israeli authorities directly involved in settler attacks, providing protection and facilitating violence against Palestinians.
- Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, labeled the sanctions “disgraceful measures” and defended the “right of Jews to settle in the Land of Israel.”
- United Kingdom continues to support trade with Israel within its 1967 borders and, despite suspending about 30 of 350 arms export licences in late 2024, still sells components for F‑35 fighter jets and other military hardware to Israel.
Why it matters: Palestinians remain exposed to settlement expansion because the sanctions target only a handful of networks and individuals, while Israel’s government and its military procurement continue largely unimpeded; the limited scope benefits the sanctioned entities by preserving broader trade and arms ties, reinforcing the perception of selective accountability.
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