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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Ireland bans Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich over 'elimination of Palestinians' comments

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin has instructed officials to ban Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering Ireland.
  • The ban follows comments by the ministers that Irish media interpreted as a desire to eliminate Palestinians.
  • Martin indicated that Ireland would advocate for similar sanctions against the Israeli ministers at the European Union level.

Ireland has banned two Israeli ministers, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, from entering the country, according to Irish media reports. Prime Minister Micheal Martin confirmed that he had directed the Justice Ministry to prohibit their travel.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, [it] is my understanding, has instructed his officials to prohibit any travel into Ireland [for] both minister Ben-Gvir and minister Smotrich.

— Micheal MartinIrish Prime Minister Micheal Martin confirming the travel ban on the two Israeli ministers.

Martin cited statements made by the Israeli ministers, which Irish media interpreted as expressing a "desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine." The Prime Minister stated that their behavior justifies sanctions at the EU level, a proposal Ireland intends to raise with its European partners.

In my view, their behavior justifies sanctions at the EU level as well, and that’s something that we will raise.

— Micheal MartinIrish Prime Minister Micheal Martin expressing his intention to seek EU-level sanctions against the Israeli ministers.

This move comes after Ben-Gvir's controversial actions on May 20, where he harassed activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously called Ben-Gvir's actions "unacceptable" and not in line with Israeli values. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter also condemned Ben-Gvir's behavior, with Sa'ar stating he was "not the face of Israel" and Leiter describing his actions as "reckless grandstanding" that undermined diplomatic efforts.

You knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display - and not for the first time.

— Gideon Sa'arForeign Minister Gideon Sa'ar criticizing Itamar Ben-Gvir's actions.

Ben-Gvir's harassment of the flotilla activists, which he himself shared via video, caused a significant diplomatic stir for Israel. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and criticisms surrounding the conduct of certain Israeli officials on the international stage.

Ben Gvir’s antics take a sledgehammer to our diplomatic efforts while Israel’s enemies gleefully jump on every unfortunate nonsense to discredit and demonize.

— Yechiel LeiterIsraeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter condemning Ben-Gvir's behavior.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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