Herald NOW’s political panel Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and ACT Minister Karen Chhour discuss sanctions against Israeli ministers. Video / Herald NOW
New Zealand has placed a travel ban on two “extremist” Israeli politicians over their comments about the war in Gaza.
The Government has banned ultra-nationalists Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, from entering New Zealand in a joint decision with the UK, Australia,Canada and Norway.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand remained in favour of a two-state solution and the Israeli ministers “severely and deliberately undermined that by personally advocating for the annexation of Palestinian land and the expansion of illegal settlements, while inciting violence and forced displacement”.
NZ has joined Australia, Canada, the UK and Norway in placing travel bans on two extremist Israeli politicians. The bans will prevent Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich & National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from travelling to NZ.
“New Zealand’s consistent and historic position has been that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are a violation of international law. Settlements and associated violence undermine the prospects for a viable two-state solution.”
It was reported last year that Ben-Gvir called for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza.
“We must encourage emigration, encourage the voluntary emigration of the residents of Gaza.”
He also said this year that “there is no need to bring in aid [to Gaza]. They have enough.”
He had previously resigned from the Israeli Government when the hostage release deal was made, only rejoining when Israel began bombing again in mid-March.
Peters said the bans were consistent with the Government’s other approaches to other crises, such as banning ministers from Russia, Belarus and Myanmar.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters meets UK Environment Secretary Steve Reed in France.
“The crisis in Gaza has made returning to a meaningful political process all the more urgent. New Zealand will continue to advocate for an end to the current conflict and an urgent restart of the Middle East peace process.”
The Telegraph reported that Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar called the move “outrageous”.
Sa’ar said that they would hold a special government meeting early next week “to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision”.
Peters is in Europe for the Pacific-France Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick told HeraldNOW’s Ryan Bridge the Government had “sat on their hands for 18 months” and there was “so much more we could do”.
Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says there is much more the Government can do. Photo / Mark Mitchell
“If we were to look at the sanctions that have been applied against these two individuals and the logic that Winston Peters is using, that could be extended to many other members of this cabinet and indeed the Australian Parliament.
“So what the Government can and should do is apply the exact same logic that it did against Russia and the unlawful occupation and invasion into Ukraine and apply that same logic with my member’s bill.”
Swarbrick last year launched a bill to sanction Israel for its “unlawful occupation of Palestine”.
Act Minister Karen Chhour agreed that Israel’s actions were “absolutely appalling” and that New Zealand needed to send a clear message.
“I absolutely agree with what he’s done here, and we’ll continue to keep an eye on what’s happening over there, and I would encourage everybody to just look at the situation and remember that New Zealand has always supported a two-state solution.”
