US imposes new sanctions on Israeli settlers for West Bank violence

Jakarta –

United States (AS) announced new sanctions against settlers Israel in the West Bank for violence against residents Palestine. The US urges its friend Israel to take responsibility for its actions.

Reported by AFP, Wednesday (28/8/2024), the sanctions were announced on the same day that Israel launched a major attack on West Bank which killed nine Palestinians, despite warnings from the administration of President Joe Biden against the expansion of the war in Gaza.

“Anti-settler violence in the West Bank is causing great human suffering, endangering Israel’s security, and undermining prospects for peace and stability in the region,” a spokesman said. State Department Matthew Miller in a statement.

“It is imperative for the Israeli government to hold accountable all individuals and entities responsible for violence against civilians in the West Bank,” he said.

Among the latest sanctions targets is Hashomer Yosh, an Israeli group that has supported the illegal settler outside the Meitarim Farm south of the Hebron Mountains. The US State Department said volunteers from the group earlier this year fenced off a village where 250 Palestinian residents had all been forced to leave.

The website of Hashomer Yosh, which uses the biblical name for the West Bank, says the group helps “several farmers throughout Judea and Samaria, who bravely defend our land and standing firm in the face of economic hardship and frequent agricultural crimes.”

The State Department also imposed sanctions on Yitzhak Levi Filant, who was accused of leading armed settlers in setting up road blocks and patrols with the aim of attacking Palestinians.

Since Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 began a war in Gaza, violence has escalated in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 and divided into experienced from Gaza with the territory of Israel​​​​.

At least 640 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the start of the Gaza war, according to an AFP tally based on official Palestinian figures.

The United States has repeatedly raised concerns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about settler violence and settlement expansion supported by right-wing members of his government.

US sanctions usually bar targets from the US financial system, forcing Israeli banks to limit transactions with sanctioned individuals for fear of being affected. However, the Biden administration has delayed imposing sanctions on government ministers in charge of settlement policy.

(rfs/jbr)