Foreign Minister Penny Wong has issued a fresh warning to Israel while the nation defied US President Donald Trump by launching more strikes on Lebanon.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned Israel must take steps to "address the situation" in the occupied West Bank as the nation defied United States President Donald Trump by launching fresh strikes on Lebanon.
Regional instability sparked by Hamas' October 7 attacks, the subsequent war in Gaza and more recent conflicts in Lebanon and Iran has corresponded with increased Israeli settler activity in the occupied Palestinian enclave.
Officials from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Norway had previously raised concerns over settler violence and some of those nations issued sanctions against Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in June last year.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, local time, Senator Wong and her counterparts from the UK, Canada, France, and Norway warned "further action" would be taken unless Israel stepped up efforts to prevent violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
"For too long, violent settlers have been able to act with near impunity, and settlement expansion and creation of outposts continue with the support and facilitation of the Government of Israel," they wrote.
"In some cases, settler violence takes place under the protection of Israel’s security forces."
The Government of Israel should ensure every attack is swiftly and thoroughly investigated, take action against the outposts and organisations that allow violence to flourish, and stop the incitement of violence.
"We stand ready to take more action if the Government of Israel does not take urgent steps to address the situation on the ground."
Australia, in partnership with New Zealand, announced targeted sanctions involving four entities and three Israeli individuals last week, with the UK, Canada, France, Norway set to impose restrictions - including travel bans and asset freezes - on six entities and one individual involved in financing, enabling and carrying out settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
The warning comes at a challenging moment for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is attempting to balance domestic pressure to combat Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah with the demands of President Trump - a key ally.
Israeli-US relations have been tested in recent days after Mr Netanyahu authorised direct attacks on Iran, the first since a fragile ceasefire came into effect in April.
The exchange was prompted by Israel's ongoing campaign in southern Lebanon, which Iran is demanding be ended as part of a broader peace deal with the US.
Israel and Lebanon have already agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire, but the deal has been rejected by Hezbollah.
The Iran-backed group has continued to fire rockets and missiles toward Israel, which Mr Netanyahu has warned would not go unanswered.
Israel's Prime Minister made good on that threat on Tuesday, launching strikes on the Lebanese city of Tyre despite having told President Trump on Monday he would halt attacks in order to avoid jeopardising peace talks with Tehran.
