National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Canada’s sanctioning of Israeli settlers and entities amid spiralling violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank was a “distinctly anti-Semitic decision”, Al Jazeera reports.

The ultra-nationalist Ben-Gvir — known for his Palestinian-hating rhetoric and religious far-right provocation — said in a post on social media that Canada had joined the “ranks of countries that have decided to harass settlers”.

“A sovereign country will not accept dictates from any country,” he added.

Canada’s Foreign Ministry said that it had imposed sanctions on seven settlers and five settler entities in the occupied West Bank.

“We remain deeply concerned by extremist settler violence in the West Bank and condemn such acts, not only for the significant impact they have on Palestinian lives but also for the corrosive impact they have on prospects for lasting peace,” Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement.