Australia Thursday imposed restrictions on seven Israeli settlers, with the government claiming they had been involved in violence against Palestinians.
One of them, Yinon Levi, a farmer, was sanctioned earlier this year by the United States, and is barred from accessing all U.S. assets, property and the American financial system. The U.S. accused him of inciting violence against Palestinians and setting fire to farmland, allegations he has denied, insisting he had broken no laws.
Australia also sanctioned the Israeli religious group Hilltop Youth, which is dedicated to establishing settler outposts throughout the West Bank.
The move follows an International Court of Justice opinion that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory were illegal under international law. Israel dismissed the court's finding as "blatantly one-sided" and not legally binding.
Palestinians say violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers is aimed at expanding Israeli control over large areas of the West Bank and undermines efforts to set up a Palestinian state.
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said those sanctioned had been involved in grave violence against Palestinians, including alleged sexual assault and torture.
Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Thursday that the restrictions are a response to aggression by settlers and Hilltop Youth.
"The people sanctioned today have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians and the entity [Hilltop Youth] has incited and perpetrated violence and these sanctions have been taken after careful consideration and are in line with actions taken by others in recent months," she said
The Israel Embassy in Canberra condemned violent acts against Palestinian communities and said in a statement Thursday that "Israel … will work to bring the extreme minority involved to justice."
Australia's sanctions follow similar measures by the United States, Britain, Canada and Japan.
