The UK government has officially sanctioned Daniella Weiss, a leading figure in Israel's far-right settler movement and commonly referred to as the "godmother" of the settlement initiative. Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the sanctions are part of the UK’s commitment to address the extremist behavior that contributes to violence and intimidation faced by Palestinian communities. At 79, Weiss leads the radical settler organization Nachala, which is also included in the sanctions package. She has played a significant role in establishing Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East war.
The settlements, largely deemed illegal by the international community based on a 2022 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, have been a point of contention, with Weiss accused of various aggressive actions against Palestinians. In response to the UK sanctions, which additionally target fellow settlers and organizations tied to illegal outposts, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman condemned the actions as unjustified.
Weiss recently featured in a documentary by Louis Theroux titled "The Settlers" and has been vocal about her plans for settlement expansion in Gaza. She has suggested that opportunities lie in encouraging Palestinian relocation from Gaza, stating, “Gaza Arabs will not stay in the Gaza Strip... The world will absorb the people of Gaza.” In her view, the principle of enabling rather than forcing resettlement remains a priority.
In conjunction with the sanctions on Weiss, the UK has paused free trade negotiations with Israel, a move Lammy justified by citing the detrimental policies pursued by Prime Minister Netanyahu's government in the West Bank and Gaza. This follows a joint statement from UK, French, and Canadian leaders demanding Israel cease military operations in Gaza and permit humanitarian aid entry. In light of Israel's recent decision to allow limited food aid into Gaza, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher criticized the effort as merely a small fraction of what is desperately needed.
The geopolitical effects of these sanctions and trade negotiations underscore the increasing tension and urgency surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as issues surrounding settlements and humanitarian aid continue to evolve.
The settlements, largely deemed illegal by the international community based on a 2022 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, have been a point of contention, with Weiss accused of various aggressive actions against Palestinians. In response to the UK sanctions, which additionally target fellow settlers and organizations tied to illegal outposts, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman condemned the actions as unjustified.
Weiss recently featured in a documentary by Louis Theroux titled "The Settlers" and has been vocal about her plans for settlement expansion in Gaza. She has suggested that opportunities lie in encouraging Palestinian relocation from Gaza, stating, “Gaza Arabs will not stay in the Gaza Strip... The world will absorb the people of Gaza.” In her view, the principle of enabling rather than forcing resettlement remains a priority.
In conjunction with the sanctions on Weiss, the UK has paused free trade negotiations with Israel, a move Lammy justified by citing the detrimental policies pursued by Prime Minister Netanyahu's government in the West Bank and Gaza. This follows a joint statement from UK, French, and Canadian leaders demanding Israel cease military operations in Gaza and permit humanitarian aid entry. In light of Israel's recent decision to allow limited food aid into Gaza, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher criticized the effort as merely a small fraction of what is desperately needed.
The geopolitical effects of these sanctions and trade negotiations underscore the increasing tension and urgency surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as issues surrounding settlements and humanitarian aid continue to evolve.
