In “U.K. Mulls Sanctions on Israeli Ministers for Remarks Described as ‘Abhorrent’” (17 October 2024), Juan Zarate spoke with Leila Fadel on NPR’s Morning Edition concerning the U.K.’s interest in imposing sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers over comments the ministers made. During the interview, Juan shared how unusual it is to sanction officials in an allied government for offensive statements. He also discussed what the sanctions, if implemented, might actually accomplish: “Sanctions can be used for lots of reasons. They can be political statements. They can be punitive and be intended to punish. Depending on what type of sanction—whether it’s a travel ban, a financial, economic sanction, freezing of assets, diplomatic sanctions—they can restrict access and movement, ability to operate. Nobody likes to be sanctioned, despite the debate about whether or not sanctions work. Whether it’s a government or an individual, or an organization, sanctions hurt, and they isolate the individual.”
Listen to the story on Morning Edition.
