SENATOR THE HON PENNY WONG
LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SENATE
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Subjects: Magnitsky-style sanctions imposed on extremist Israeli settlers; Hamas-Israel Conflict; Humanitarian situation in Gaza.

SABRA LANE, HOST: The Australian Government's imposed Magnitsky-style targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on seven Israeli individuals and one group for involvement in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

This follows the recent International Criminal Court of Justice ruling that found the continued Israeli occupation of settlements was illegal, a finding that the Israeli Government dismissed as blatantly one-sided.

Australia's Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, joins us now. Good morning and welcome to AM.

PENNY WONG, FOREIGN MINISTER: Good morning, good to speak with you, Sabra.

LANE: You've sanctioned seven individuals and one organisation. Why have you targeted them?

FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, we have imposed sanctions on seven individuals and one entity for the involvement in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The people sanctioned today have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians, and the entity 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.

LANE: You mentioned that, the US sanctioned one of these individuals, Yinon Levi, four months ago. Crowd funding efforts led by others have tried to bypass the restrictions. What's your advice to Australians who might try to donate money to him via these means?

FOREIGN MINISTER: What I would say is that sanctions are a very substantial penalty that we've put in place. They're obviously not the first thing we do when we look to implement our foreign policy, but they are very significant.

What I would say is these individuals have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians, including things such as beatings, sexual assault and torture, resulting in serious injury and in some cases death.

You know, we have imposed these after careful consideration, and we would expect that all Australians would recognise the weight of these sanctions.

LANE: Did the Australian Government give the Israeli Government a heads up that this was coming, and are you expecting some sort of pushback, or did you get pushback?

FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, we obviously - diplomats in the usual way, have spoken to our Israeli counterparts about these. We are not the only country who are imposing sanctions on these individuals and this entity.

LANE: And are you expecting pushback?

FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, that's a matter for the Israelis. What I can say is our job is to act on behalf of Australia. We have a view about the importance of a two state solution. We have a view that this government came to very clearly and publicly, in contrast with the previous government, that settlements are unlawful under International Law.

We are continuing to act in ways that we can to look to how we protect a pathway to a two state solution. Part of that is to ensure we also impose penalties on those who are perpetrating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

LANE: Some listeners will think it's Israeli policy to expand the presence on these settlements and to defend them. Why target the individuals when it's state policy?

FOREIGN MINISTER: I think we have been very clear in terms of state-to-state relations about our view on settlements. We have said they are unlawful under International Law, we've been clear about that, that is something this government has done.

We have also said that we want to continue to take steps towards a two state solution. I appreciate that that may not be the view of some people in the Israeli Government. That is the view of the Australian Government.

LANE: Practically, do you think it will make any difference? Israel has shrugged off international sanctions and criticisms before.

FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, it's ultimately a decision for Israel, but what I would say is that this is a state that has had a lot of support in the international community, and Israel should recognise the importance of its standing and legitimacy in the international community.

LANE: There have been calls for stricter action including severing trade ties and recalling the Australian Ambassador. Has the government considered that kind of response at all, or is that something that might come further down the track?

FOREIGN MINISTER: We have diplomatic relations with many, many countries around the world, and we do that in order to continue to engage and to prosecute and assert Australia's interests as part of that engagement.

So, no, I'm not proposing to recall the Ambassador. What I am proposing to do is through him and through others, to continue to advocate for a ceasefire.

Let's remember, in relation to the conflict in Gaza, the United Nations Security Council has supported a comprehensive ceasefire proposal, it has been endorsed by the UN Security Council, and we would call on all parties to implement it.

LANE: Well, just on that point, Mr Netanyahu has just delivered a very defiant speech in Washington calling protestors outside Congress useful "Iran's useful idiots", and he says that Israel is aiming for total victory in Gaza and nothing less. What's your response?

FOREIGN MINISTER: What I would say is I support and Australia supports the UN Security Council’s ceasefire resolution, which was endorsed by all members, or not vetoed by any members of the UN Security Council, that is the authority in International Law, and on the ground, what I would say is, we consider that the situation in Gaza now is catastrophic, and we really we are deeply, deeply worried and distressed by what we are seeing in Gaza in relation to the humanitarian situation.

LANE: Well, that humanitarian situation, the World Health Organisation says there are now traces of polio being found in Gaza. How worried are you?

FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, this says something about the catastrophic humanitarian situation that we are seeing for the people of Gaza. And let's remember, we condemn Hamas - we have been clear in terms of our actions and our words that we find Hamas repugnant. What we also say, there are civilians in Gaza, men, women and children, who are suffering and the fact that in this century we have Polio found in traces of wastewater - traces of Polio in wastewaters - is extremely disturbing.

I met with the Chief of UNICEF earlier this week, Catherine Russell, and we spoke about this, and she informed me about this fact. As I said, it goes to the catastrophic humanitarian circumstances facing people in Gaza.

LANE: Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, thanks for joining AM this morning.

FOREIGN MINISTER: Good to speak with you. Thanks, Sabra.

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Authorised by Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia.