UK Considers Sanctions Against Israeli Ministers Amid Strained Relations
The UK government is reportedly preparing a package of sanctions against senior Israeli ministers, according to a report by the BBC. The sanctions are said to be targeting Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the defence minister, Israel Katz.
Relations between Britain and Israel have been described as being in their “worst state for decades” by the BBC, citing The Guardian. The UK government has been exploring options to take a stronger stance against Israel, including potentially recognising a Palestinian state. According to the BBC, conversations have taken place within government about recognising a Palestinian state, with French President Emmanuel Macron’s government also considering taking the step.
The move is seen as an effort to put pressure on Israel to address the ongoing conflict in the region. The BBC reports that the UK government wants to ensure that the option of recognising a Palestinian state is deployed where it will have maximum impact. The development comes as the conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, with concerns about the humanitarian situation on the ground.
The issue has sparked widespread debate in the UK, with some politicians and commentators calling for stronger action against Israel. The BBC reports that The Daily Mirror has described the situation as “This must end now”, with a photograph of a crying and emaciated four-month-old Palestinian baby.
Meanwhile, the issue of free speech has been raised in relation to a recent court case. Lucy Connolly, a woman who was convicted of inciting racial hatred in a social media post, had her appeal against her sentence rejected. The case has sparked concerns about the limits of free speech, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson stating that the UK is “losing its reputation for free speech”. The BBC reports that The Sun’s editorial has described the sentence as being “at the extreme end of punishment”.
In other news, Leanne Lucas, a teacher whose children’s dance class was attacked in Southport, has launched a campaign to ban pointed kitchen blades. The BBC reports that she revealed she has not used one since last summer and said she had not realised how afraid she felt in her own kitchen.
The UK-EU deal has also been in the news, with the BBC reporting that Spain and Italy blocked plans to drop mobile phone roaming charges for British tourists. According to the BBC, there were concerns that holidaymakers would use the bandwidth required by people who live in the countries, which would have made domestic contracts more expensive.
Finally, the government’s announcement that it has launched 81 criminal investigations into environmental breaches by water companies has been welcomed by the BBC. The move is seen as an effort to hold water companies accountable for their actions, with The Daily Star’s editorial describing water bosses as “fat cat chiefs”.
Original Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy755y2nde3o
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