The Minister of Internal Security of Israel and leader of the far-right party Jewish Home, Itamar Ben Gvir, has suggested this Monday that the Israeli government recognize the Falkland Islands as Argentine territory under British occupation, in response to the announced diplomatic shift of the Government of the United Kingdom regarding Israel. He has also demanded the adoption of sanctions against London.
"It is time for the State of Israel to publicly recognize that the Falkland Islands are occupied Argentine territory that the British violently stole from the Argentine people," Ben Gvir has published on social media.
The head of Internal Security has criticized that "the British are not satisfied with occupying this territory, but they also carry out oil explorations and steal the money from the Argentine people."
In this context, he urges Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "recognize Argentina's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and impose sanctions on the United Kingdom while the occupation continues."
With these statements, Ben Gvir aligns himself with the Israeli Minister of Finance and leader of the far-right party Religious Zionism, Bezalel Smotrich, who this same Monday has demanded the expulsion of the British ambassador to Israel, David Quarrey.
"Let's expel the British ambassador tonight! We are not going to be the doormat of an antisemitic government of a country conquered by radical Islam that tries to save itself from economic and social decay by attacking the Jews and the State of Israel," Smotrich has published on social media.
The far-right leader has also emphasized that "the British Mandate over the Land of Israel has ended," referring to the period of British colonial administration in Palestine prior to the proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948.
Shift in British policy towards Israel
British media have reported that the Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, will announce this Tuesday before the House of Commons a "reset" of relations with Israel and a position closer to the Palestinian cause, with support for the two-state solution, defense of the rights of the Palestinian population, and respect for international law.
The change in approach would also include the prohibition of trade in certain goods and some services with the Israeli settlements located in the West Bank.
The British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has maintained contacts this Monday with the American President, Donald Trump, and with several leaders of the Persian Gulf, including officials from Qatar, to convey and justify this shift in the official stance of the United Kingdom.