Israeli minister demands UK 'end occupation of Falklands' and hand islands back to Argentina

Israeli minister demands UK 'end occupation of Falklands' and hand islands back to Argentina Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel ’s minister for national security, issued his comments just hours after it became public knowledge Ed Miliband is due to announce new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank A member of the Israeli government has claimed the Falkland Islands are ‘Argentine territory under occupation’ and called for ‘sanctions’ against the UK. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel ’s minister for national security, issued a statement late on Monday evening (September 7), just hours after it became public knowledge the UK government is due to announce new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary, is expected to outline new trade restrictions on goods coming out of the illegal settlements in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory, on Tuesday (September 8). As soon as rumours emerged of Andy Burnham ’s ‘reset’ of relations, Israeli officials threatened to ‘act against Britain’. Itamar Ben-Gvir has now publicly called for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognise the Atlantic archipelago as Argentinian. He said on social media: “It's time for the State of Israel to publicly recognize that the Malvinas Islands are Argentine territory under occupation, which the British violently steal from the Argentine people. “The British are not content with merely occupying the territory; they also carry out oil drilling there and steal the money from the Argentine people. “I call upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize Argentina's sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and to impose sanctions on Great Britain as long as the occupation continues.” The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory, but Argentina has long disputed the UK's claim to the archipelago. Political tensions surrounding the territory erupted into warfare in 1982. The conflict lasted 74 days and concluded with an Argentine surrender. His comments follow Donald Trump ’s statement revealing the US, Israel’s major ally, will ‘re-evaluate’ its position on the Falkland Islands. Historically, America was ‘neutral’ in the dispute, but recognised the UK’s claim to the islands and provided military support during the 1982 war. His position may change in the wake of President Javier Milei’s address to Argentina on the Falklands last week. Milei, a close friend of Trump’s, did not make any new claims over the islands, but did say the ‘winds of change’ are coming. Trump’s position on the islands appears to be a response to Keir Starmer ’s refusal to back US military action in Iran, which it conducted alongside Israel. He explained: “Your country [the UK] was not there to help me. We didn’t need help, but I did ask Nato, and I asked your former leader.” There are fears from intelligence experts imposing new sanctions on Israel could harm international anti-terror co-operation and increase hostilities towards Britain’s Jewish community. Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, told BBC Newsnight : “From a terrorism perspective, I mean, obviously one’s got to think about international cooperation.” He added: “That is a really big deal, particularly with Iran, thinking about intelligence. On the other hand, I suppose it’s also true to say that some settler violence does amount to terrorism.” Mr Hall also expressed concern about the potential impact on Britain’s Jewish communities, adding: “I think there is a risk that if you stir the pot by making Israel a pariah state, then that will bring that flame up again, which we saw. “Remember, it was only a year ago that there was the attack at Heaton Park. And I’ve been very worried about de-legitimising anyone who’s Israeli, certainly, and Jews, many of whom support Israel, and painting a bit of a target on the back. “Now, I’m sure the government will be very careful, I hope they will be, in the way in which they describe this, but that is a concern.”