On June 9, 2026, Israel's Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning sanctions imposed by several countries in response to violence by settlers in the West Bank. The ministry described the sanctions as 'disgraceful' and accused foreign governments of attempting to influence political outcomes in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The sanctions were announced by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, and Norway, targeting individuals and organizations associated with settler violence. The joint statement from these countries indicated that the measures aim to disrupt financial networks that allegedly support attacks against Palestinians and to promote a two-state solution.
Israel's Foreign Ministry argued that the sanctions reflect a political stance against the Jewish presence in the region, while failing to address what it described as Palestinian incitement and the Palestinian Authority's policy of providing payments to families of individuals involved in attacks against Israelis.
The sanctions follow increased international scrutiny of Israel's actions in the West Bank, with reports indicating an average of six attacks by settlers per day this year. A joint statement from leaders of several countries last month noted that settler violence had reached unprecedented levels and that ongoing settlement expansion poses a threat to the viability of a future Palestinian state.
In its response, Israel also criticized the sanctioning countries for not adequately addressing antisemitism within their own borders, claiming that such measures could exacerbate anti-Jewish sentiment.
