Israeli ministers want Britain to be sanctioned for ‘occupying’ the Falklands

Israeli ministers have called for new sanctions on Britain for its ‘occupation’ of the Falkland Islands.

The new unrest comes hours after it was revealed that Andy Burnham will enact a trade ban on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The sanctions come as Israeli extremists have been attacking Palestinians and taking over homes with little intervention by Israeli forces.

Ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich suggested the British ambassador to Israel should be ‘expelled’.

Ben Gvir said: ‘It’s time for the state of Israel to publicly recognise that the Malvinas Islands [the Argentine name for the Falkland Islands] are Argentine territory under occupation, which the British violently steal from the Argentine people.

‘The British are not content with merely occupying the territory; they also carry out oil drilling there and steal the money from the Argentine people.’

This is despite a 2013 referendum in which the Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory, with 99.8% voting in favour and just three votes against.

Last week, Argentine President Javier Milei said: ‘I want to be quite clear with everybody. The Falklands are Argentinian. Historically and legally. There can be no argument. They are part of the Argentine territory.

‘The islanders on their usurped territory do not have a legitimate right to self-determination, and any argument on any such self-determination is invalid.’

Now, Israel has waded into another foreign issue – this time, suggesting Britain should be sanctioned for ‘occupying’ the territory.

Ben Gvir added: ‘I call upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognise Argentina’s sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and to impose sanctions on Great Britain as long as the occupation continues.’

The comments appear to be in response to Britain’s planned sanctions on Israel’s illegal annexation of the West Bank.

Although nominally governed by Palestinians, much of what is formally part of the West Bank is under Israeli control, with military checkpoints and segregated roads.

The Palestinian Authority controls just 17% of the West Bank, although this accounts for most of the area’s Palestinian population.

Israeli settlements, which break international law, have been set up in the West Bank, gradually encroaching on Palestinian territory and carving gaps between Palestinian cities, towns and villages.

Once opposed by Israel’s governments, the settlements received backing and military protection from the current administration of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Daniella Weiss, often referred to as the ‘godmother’ of Israel’s settler movement, is among several people sanctioned by the UK  over inciting or carrying out violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

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