Bezalel Smotrich demanded the immediate expulsion of the British diplomat after new measures from London against Israel were revealed
“It is time for the State of Israel to publicly recognize that the Falkland Islands are occupied Argentine territory,” stated Ben-Gvir, who also accused the British of appropriating Argentine resources through oil exploitation in the archipelago.
The tension between Israel and the United Kingdom escalated this Monday after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly demanded the immediate expulsion of the British ambassador to Israel, in response to new measures being prepared by London against Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
“Expel the British ambassador tonight!”, Smotrich wrote on his X account. The official added that Israel will not be “a doormat trampled on” by what he called an “antisemitic government” and concluded his post with a strong historical reference: “The British Mandate in the Land of Israel is over.”
The Finance Minister's reaction came after it was revealed that the British government is preparing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, as well as possible sanctions aimed at individuals and institutions linked to those activities. The measure would be formally announced before the British Parliament.
Smotrich's statement was made almost simultaneously with another strong declaration within the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Israel to officially recognize Argentina's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and to impose sanctions on the United Kingdom while British occupation continues.
The Israeli official directly urged Netanyahu to recognize Argentina's sovereignty over the islands and impose sanctions on Great Britain. The statement constitutes significant political support for the claim that President Javier Milei has recently placed back at the center of the international agenda.
The statements reflect a growing confrontation between key members of the Israeli government and London. While Smotrich directly targeted the British diplomatic representation, Ben-Gvir shifted the dispute to one of the most sensitive points for the United Kingdom: the illegal occupation of the Falkland Islands.
The escalation also occurs after measures promoted by Milei's government to increase pressure on companies linked to the illegal exploitation of resources in the archipelago. In this context, Ben-Gvir's positioning adds new international support to the Argentine claim, while the relationship between Israel and the United Kingdom is experiencing one of its most tense moments in history.
