Smotrich vows new settlements, Ben Gvir expresses his ‘contempt’ as UK to sanction them

In response to the British decision to impose sanctions on him and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expresses “contempt for the White Paper,” comparing the move to the 1939 UK policy paper limiting Jewish immigration to Mandatory Palestine.

“We survived Pharaoh, we will also survive Keir Starmer,” he continues in a statement. “I will continue to work for Israel and the people of Israel without fear or intimidation!”

At a dedication ceremony for a new settlement near Hebron, Smotrich says “the timing couldn’t be better.”

Smotrich also calls the decision “a White Paper.”

“Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland and we will not allow it to do so again,” he continues. “We are determined to continue building.”

At a joint statement with Zambia’s Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe in Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar calls British move “outrageous.”

He says he discussed the issue with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision.”