David Cameron Considered Sanctions on Israeli Ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir

Former UK Prime Minister and Foreign Minister David Cameron revealed on Tuesday that he had planned to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, whom he described as extremists. Speaking to the BBC's Today program, Cameron stated that before the 2024 elections, he had prepared sanctions as a response to inflammatory statements made by the two ministers, who had called for blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza and encouraged settler violence.

Cameron, who served as Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016 and as Foreign Minister from 2023 until 2024, explained that the sanctions were intended to send a clear message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu without resorting to an arms embargo. He emphasized that while the UK strongly supports Israel in its defense against Iran, the planned sanctions would have allowed the UK to criticize certain elements of the Israeli government from a position of friendship and alliance.

The proposed sanctions would have included travel bans and asset freezes targeting Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. However, the sanctions were never enacted, as Cameron was advised that it would have been too politically sensitive during the election period. Sources close to the UK government told the BBC that the plans were advanced and ready to go, but the timing and political implications held them back.

Cameron also noted that while sanctions on Russia had been challenging due to overwork within the Foreign Office, the legal groundwork for sanctions against the Israeli ministers had been laid out in detail.

On Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that his government was preparing to impose sanctions on both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, signaling a possible shift in the UK's approach to addressing concerns over certain elements within Israel’s leadership.

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