New Zealand places travel bans on three extremist Israeli settlers
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the banned individuals are destabilising the West Bank. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
New Zealand is placing travel bans on three extremist Israeli settlers for their violent acts to expand illegal settlements in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank.
The individuals now banned from travelling to New Zealand are Itamar Yehuda Levi, Harel David Libi and Eliav Libi.
The bans reflect decisions made by Australia and the European Union and were announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters.
“Our travel bans are not about the Israeli people, nor the Israeli Government. This action is against three individuals whose use of violence and displacement is destabilising the West Bank. We have been clear such actions are unacceptable.
“The actions of these individuals threaten peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians and drive the region further into crisis.”
He reiterated New Zealand’s position advocating for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, saying any action to expand illegal Israeli settlements undermined progress towards that solution.
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.