Smotrich slams potential US sanctions as attack on Israeli sovereignty

The Times of Israel reports that Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, described potential U.S. plans to sanction him as politically motivated.

“This is an unfortunate decision that stems from the internal political needs of those who claim to lead the largest democracy in the world and operate with distinctly anti-democratic tools against a brave partner who is the only democracy in the Middle East,” said Smotrich. 

“[Imposing sanctions] constitutes a fatal injury to Israeli sovereignty and relations between the countries, and this will have serious consequences in many areas.” 

Commenting on his role in the Israeli settler movement in the occupied West Bank, Smotrich said he was proud of his efforts to “prevent the establishment of a terrorist state that would endanger the existence of the state of Israel", adding, "I am ready to pay the price for that".