Britain Imposes Sanctions on Five Israeli Activists and Settler Leaders
Britain has imposed sanctions on five Israeli citizens designated as extremist settlers, drawing sharp condemnation from local council heads and the figures targeted.
In addition to economic sanctions against Israel, the British government has imposed restrictive measures against five Israeli citizens, including several prominent public figures. The UK sanctions target Benzi Gopstein, Baruch Marzel, Meir Mordechai Ettinger, Avichai Suissa, and Eliav Libi, whom London authorities designated as "extremist settlers." Meanwhile, Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan is visiting Slovenia, where he met with senior state officials, including the new pro-Israeli Prime Minister Janez Janša, in an attempt to block European moves against Israel. Dagan addressed London's sanctions, stating: "Britain's decision to boycott products from Judea and Samaria and impose sanctions on Jews simply because they live and work in their ancestral homeland is a disgraceful antisemitic step. It is time for Britain to wake up: the British Mandate ended nearly 80 years ago."
During a meeting with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transportation and Energy, Jernej Vrtovec, the Slovenian official wore the Samaria lapel pin and said: "Thank you very much, Mr. Dagan, for your visit to Slovenia. Slovenia and Israel are friendly nations, and we need to upgrade this spirit under our new conservative government."
Profiles of Sanctioned Israelis
Returning to the Israeli citizens targeted by personal sanctions, Benzi Gopstein is a well-known right-wing activist and student of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane. He was placed on the Otzma Yehudit party's Knesset candidate list in two election cycles, but the Supreme Court disqualified his candidacy following petitions from left-wing movements. He founded the Lehava organization to prevent assimilation and was convicted in 2024 by a Magistrates' Court of incitement to racism after comparing Arabs to cancerous growths during a memorial ceremony for Meir Kahane. In February 2025, the District Court upheld the state's appeal and convicted him of incitement to terror.
Gopstein responded to the sanctions, stating:
"I have no intention of entering Europe. I wish them great success with the Arab occupation visiting them, and we would be happy to send them the Arabs from here too. Scorn for the White Paper! We at the Lehava organization will continue to save the daughters of Israel, and they will continue to impose sanctions."
Baruch Marzel is a well-known right-wing activist who was also a student of Meir Kahane. He has been arrested numerous times by police on suspicion of public disturbances, clashes with security forces, and Palestinian residents. In the 1980s, he was first convicted of obstructing a police officer in the line of duty during the evacuation of an outpost. In 2003, he was convicted of assaulting a police officer during clashes at Havat Gilad, receiving community service. In 2023, following a lenient plea bargain, he was convicted of participating in a brawl and pushing following a clash with a left-wing activist in Hebron, resulting in a suspended prison sentence.
Over the years, Marzel ran for the Knesset several times but failed to win a seat. In 2019, the Supreme Court disqualified him from running after he stated in a filmed interview: "Arabs are an enemy, they must be expelled! You do not try to educate them." Marzel also spoke out against employing Arabs, calling "anyone who employs them a lawbreaker."
Meir Mordechai Ettinger, also sanctioned by Britain, is a far-right activist and the grandson of Meir Kahane. He was designated by the Shin Bet as a prominent leader of the "Hilltop Youth." He is considered the formulator of the ideology of the "Revolt" organization, which aims to collapse state institutions and establish a Halachic kingdom. Following the Duma arson attack in 2015, he was held in administrative detention for about ten months. Ettinger was not implicated in direct involvement or any physical act in the attack, but as Shin Bet investigations revealed, his connection is deep-rooted and ideological.
In his past, he was convicted under a plea bargain of conspiracy to commit a crime with a racist motive, and over the years, dozens of administrative restraining orders have been issued against him barring him from Judea and Samaria and other areas in the country. Other nations, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, have previously imposed sanctions on him.
Avichai Suissa is one of the founders of the Shomir Judea and Samaria organization and formerly served as its CEO. This security organization operates in Judea and Samaria, inspired by the historical Jewish guard organization "HaShomer." Last May, the European Union imposed sanctions on Suissa, claiming he was previously involved in abusing Palestinians.
Eliav Libi is a right-wing figure, a settlement activist, and one of the founders of the Farm Association, which works to regulate agricultural farms in Judea and Samaria. He established several outposts, some of which developed into towns, such as "Malachei HaShalom" in Benjamin. Today, Libi heads the "Bayit HaAretz" forum, which promotes Jewish settlement even in Areas A and B in order to abolish the division established under the Oslo Accords. The forum also brings politicians and public figures on tours of outposts, including the Tel Tlpiot outpost in Benjamin, which has been evacuated several times.
Eliav Libi lost his son on May 29, 2025, in the northern Gaza Strip after an explosive device detonated under the bulldozer he was operating. David, of blessed memory, worked as heavy machinery operator for a contractor company working for the IDF and carried out infrastructure demolition work in the strip.
Libi responded to the sanctions imposed on him:
"It does not matter what the Gentiles will say - what matters is what the Jews will do. I state clearly, we will not be deterred or stop. We will continue to struggle and fight for the people of Israel and the redemption of Israel. I call on the State of Israel to formulate a clear and resolute policy and provide full backing to all bodies and individuals persecuted by sanctions, which I view as antisemitic persecution and a blatant violation of Israeli sovereignty. We will continue to build, settle, and take root in our ancestral inheritance."
Local Leadership Reactions
Benjamin Regional Council Head and Yesha Council Chairman Israel Gantz stated:
"Britain's decision to boycott products from Judea and Samaria and impose sanctions on Jews simply because they live and work in their ancestral homeland is a disgraceful antisemitic step. Instead of dealing with severe problems at home, the British government is recruiting a coalition of pro-Palestinian nations for an economic war against Jews in Benjamin, Judea, and Samaria. This is a moral disgrace. Our message to Britain and anyone joining the boycott is clear: you will not succeed in driving the Jews out of Judea and Samaria. For every attempt to harm the settlement enterprise, we will respond with more construction, more towns, and Israeli sovereignty."
Beit El Local Council Head Shai Alon also reacted to the decision, stating that the Israeli government must review its cooperation with Britain:
"I call on the government of Israel to examine retaliatory measures, including reducing cooperation with Britain in cyber, artificial intelligence, medicine, agriculture, water technologies, and defense industries. Whoever seeks to enjoy Israeli innovation cannot expect a one-sided relationship. Reciprocity and national dignity are fundamental conditions in relations between countries."
