5 Western nations sanction networks tied to West Bank settler violence

Britain, Australia, Canada, France and Norway imposed coordinated sanctions on people and groups they say finance, enable or carry out violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. The five governments said the measures are meant to hold extremist settlers accountable after a rise in attacks on Palestinian civilians and property. Britain targeted six entities and one individual with asset freezes, travel bans and director disqualifications where applicable, while France also barred Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country. Israel rejected the move as political. The countries urged Israel's government to enforce accountability and warned that more steps could follow.