German Green Party President urges state to impose sanctions on Israeli minister
German Green Party heads called on Berlin to work with other countries to sanction Israeli far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, alleging incitement of violence against Palestinians.
Franziska Brantner, who co-led Germany's second largest opposition party, accused the two ministers of “publicly calling for violence against the Palestinian population and long-standing policy of annexation and displacement”.
“This has lost human life, replaced the entire community and posed a huge obstacle in the path of the peace process,” Brantner told the DPA.
Her comments were announced in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway on Tuesday, where they approved Ben-Givr, security minister of Benjamin Netanyahu's government, and Finance Minister Smotrich.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich actively supported the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and the tolerance of violence against the Palestinian population by radical settlers.
Smotrich has recently threatened the “complete destruction” of the Gaza Strip, while Ben-Gvir has strongly opposed restoring the delivery of humanitarian aid to the embattled Palestinian territory.
In a joint statement, foreign ministers from five countries accused Smotrich and Ben Giver of inciting “extremist violence and serious abuse of Palestinian human rights.”
The British government said that British sanctions involve travel bans and asset freezes. Norway also imposes a travel ban.
Brantner said that if the German government is serious about its security responsibility for the State of Israel (the policy known as “national reason” in Germany, as well as international law, Brantner said, Berlin needs to act with European partners.
“This is the only way for a two-state solution to have the opportunity – to ensure the security and dignity of Israel and Palestinians.”
