12/6/2025–|Last update: 20:27 (Mecca time)
Israeli writer Gideon Levy said in an article published by the Haaretz newspaper, that the sanctions imposed by five countries on the Israeli ministers of finance and national security in Salail Smotrich and Etamar bin Ghaffir are only a “small and sad” step on the path of ending the massacre in Gaza, and the war, occupation or racial separation will not stop.
The governments of Britain, Canada, Norway, New Zealand and Australia imposed sanctions on the two ministers on Tuesday, June 10.
According to the article, these countries have been keen not to punish the two ministers for their actions, but rather for their “disgusting statements”, as if the tongue of the state of those countries says: “It is not polite to say that Hawara must be erased, O Balsalil, and a defect on you, Etitar, to chant death to the Arabs!”, As an expression of Levi.
The writer commented – in a reference to the “banality” of the sanctions, as he put it – that Smutrich, who “loves” Scandinavian literature and wandering the streets of Oslo will no longer be able to visit Norway, while Bin Ghafir will be deprived of the monitoring of the Kiwi bird in New Zealand!
He wondered with a cynicism whether the five countries are acting naively or cheese, and whether the sanctions were a formal step, or whether the decision -making really believes that they will affect Israeli policies towards Gaza.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eduffygvmlwg
Voluntary others
Levy emphasized that restricting responsibility to Ben Ghaffir and Smotrich supposed to be “wicked” and “good” within the Israeli government, and it is an acquittal of others and a kind of hypocrisy, because what is happening in Gaza is not only made by these two ministers, but is the fruit of the policies of an entire government and a society that supports it, according to the article.
The writer pointed out that all those who threaten the imposition of sanctions are also keen to distinguish between the government and the people, as if they say: “All that is happening is because of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, and not because of you, dear Israelis.”
Levy criticized this situation, and said that the sanctions should be imposed on the entire government, starting with the starting of the international criminal court, and up to the smallest minister, officer, soldier and employee who is implementing the massacres in Gaza.
He added that the majority of the Israelis, according to opinion polls, support these massacres and even awaiting the implementation of the population deportation scheme that may follow them, and therefore, international pressure and sanctions must affect Israel as a whole without any exception.
Levy concluded that the problem is not only in the two extremist ministers, but also in the entire Israeli society, including those who consider themselves moderate like the alleged leader of Israeli resistance, Benny Gantz, who described the sanctions as “a deep moral failure from the world.”
Levy chanted sarcastically at the end of his article: “Do you now understand diplomats and decision makers: In Israel, we are all Bin Ghafir and Smotrich.”
